STORY: Israel declares "state of war" as conflict with Hamas continues
DATELINE: Oct. 9, 2023
LENGTH: 00:04:56
LOCATION: GAZA, Palestine
CATEGORY: MILITARY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) strikes in Gaza
2. STANDUP 1 (English): SANAA KAMAL, Xinhua reporter in Gaza
3. various of destroyed buildings in Gaza
4. STANDUP 2 (English): ZHANG TIANLANG, Xinhua correspondent in Jerusalem
5. various of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) evacuating residents
6. various of street views in Jerusalem
7. STANDUP 3 (English): XIE HAO, Xinhua correspondent in Beirut
8. various of rocket attack in northern Israel
9. STANDUP 4 (English): WANG HAO, Xinhua correspondent in Cairo
10. various of Egyptian policeman's attack site and Egyptian coastal city of Alexandria
11. various of Israeli security forces fighting

STORYLINE:

Israel's cabinet declared a "state of war" on Sunday after a massive surprise attack launched by Hamas has so far killed at least 700 in Israel while retaliatory Israeli airstrikes killed at least 413 in Gaza.

STANDUP 1 (English): SANAA KAMAL, Xinhua reporter in Gaza
"Now we are standing in front of a toppled building that was attacked by the Israeli aircraft last night and was completely destroyed by the strikes of the Israeli army. Last night was the most violent and terrifying for the Palestinian residents in the coastal enclave. Bombardment was exchanged between Hamas, the Islamist group that is ruling Gaza, and the Israeli army. Many (parts) of the coastal enclave were subjected to the cut of power after Israel decided to stop providing the electricity. Once you walk in the street, you can see the damage everywhere. Cars, buildings as well as the shops. Their owners have been already suffering from the economic situation in Gaza, and the Gazans feel that they are subject to another heavy and violent war just like in 2014. They are looking forward to ending the current conflict between Hamas and the Israeli army and they called on the international community to pressure Israel to stop its strikes on the coastal enclave. The Gazans say that they can not stand for more violations in Gaza. The current conflict between Hamas and Israel came after Hamas's decision of a sudden and unprecedented offensive at Israel with launching of thousands of rockets."

STANDUP 2 (English): ZHANG TIANLANG, Xinhua correspondent in Jerusalem
"The 2nd day of conflict between Israel and Hamas is coming to an end. The Israel Defense Forces, also known as the IDF, confirmed it has regained control of most towns near the Gaza border, while admitting there are still Hamas militants in Israel and the fight is still ongoing. Israel was evacuating residents in communities near the Gaza Strip as well as the northern border with Lebanon, as the IDF confirmed dozens of rockets were fired from Lebanon to Israel and it responded with a drone attack. Israel also confirmed that over 100 civilians and soldiers were held by Hamas as hostages, but the exact number remains unknown. On Oct. 8 in Jerusalem, I saw public transportation resume, some stores were opened but most of them remain closed. Pedestrians and cars on the road were also obviously fewer than usual."

STANDUP 3 (English): XIE HAO, Xinhua correspondent in Beirut
"On early Sunday morning, dozens of rockets and heavy artillery shells were fired toward Israeli positions on the Shebaa Farms, a disputed strip of land at the intersection of the Lebanese-Syrian border and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. Lebanese armed group Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for the mortar and rocket attack in northern Israel and said it is in solidarity with the Palestinians. In response, the Israeli military fired artillery into the Lebanese area from which the attack originated, an army spokesperson said in a statement. Later, a drone attack was launched, targeting tents set up by Hezbollah in the region, according to the spokesperson."

STANDUP 4 (English): WANG HAO, Xinhua correspondent in Cairo
"Taking into account the security situation in surrounding countries, in a surprise development, a shooting took place on Oct. 8 in the northern Egyptian coastal city of Alexandria, where an Egyptian policeman attacked a group of tourists from Israel with a gun, killing two Israelis and an Egyptian guide on the spot. Egypt is considered as a traditional mediator. It is reported that Egyptian intelligence has talked with both sides on the ceasefire issue, but Israel does not accept 'at this stage.' 
At the official level, Algeria, Morocco, Libya, Sudan and Jordan made bilateral contacts or issued statements criticizing Israel's bombing of Gaza and calling for civilians to be avoided, and stressed that dialogue and negotiation, as well as the two-state solution, are the only way out. In addition to that, the Palestinians and some Arab countries called for an emergency meeting of the Arab League."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Gaza, Palestine.
(XHTV)