 The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas launched the biggest attack on Israel in years on October 7, killing more than 20 people in a surprise assault that combined gunmen penetrating into Israeli towns with a barrage of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip, the southern Israeli cities of Ashkelon and Ashdod were hit by rockets from nearby Gaza, destroying cars and damaging buildings. Israel said the Iran-backed group had declared war as its army confirmed fighting with militants in several Israeli. 10,000 military bases near Gaza and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to retaliate.At least 22 Israelis were killed in the attack so far, with more than 500 wounded, Israel's ambulance service said, but added that the toll was expected to rise.