World News

Israel’s military and espionage services are considered among the world’s best, but on Saturday, operational and intelligence failures led to the worst breach of Israeli defenses in half a century.

The strategy mirrors efforts by extremist groups like the Islamic State and Al Qaeda in years past.

Satellite imagery and drone videos show damage to infrastructure along the Gaza border shortly after the assault began.

There is broad consensus in Congress for backing Israel in its war against Hamas, but with the House rudderless and divided, the path for any assistance is uncertain.

The storm is expected to strengthen more before it makes landfall on Tuesday evening. It could bring heavy rains leading to mudslides, forecasters said.

Palestinian militants kidnapped scores of Israelis in an unprecedented attack that took the Israeli-Palestinian conflict into unknown territory. Their relatives recount how they were captured.

Israel had considered Hamas a terrorist organization but one that could help govern the Gaza Strip, which the group controls. Now, senior Israeli officials say, Hamas must be crushed.

All flights were suspended for more than an hour, but after what security officials said was a vigorous search, the airport reopened.

The attack by Hamas forces Israel once again to confront the conflict that has haunted it since the creation of the modern state.

American and Israeli officials said none of Israel’s intelligence services had specific warning that Hamas was preparing a sophisticated assault.