Israel reels from shock Hamas attack and warns of a long, difficult war

The Israeli response will be complicated by Hamas’ capture of dozens of Israeli hostages, both civilian and military, which saw women and children among those taken to Gaza.

Social media and Israeli TV was filled with accounts from devastated family members fearing for loved ones who had been seized by gunmen in their homes, amid fears they could be used as bargaining chips to trade for Palestinian prisoners or deter any Israeli ground assault.