COMMENT | Shock attack terrified Israelis, but not 'unprovoked'

COMMENT | This is a terrible day. After waking up to air sirens under a barrage of hundreds of rockets fired on Israeli cities, we have been learning about the unprecedented assault by Palestinian militants from Gaza into Israeli towns bordering the strip.

News is flowing in of at least 1,200 Israelis killed and thousands more wounded, a similar number of people in Gaza, as well as 150 Israelis reportedly kidnapped into Gaza.

Meanwhile, the Israeli army has already begun its own offensive on the blockaded strip, with troops mobilising along the fence and air strikes - killing and wounding scores of Palestinians so far.

The absolute dread of people who are seeing armed militants in their streets and homes, or the sight of fighter jets and approaching tanks, is unimaginable. Attacks on civilians are war crimes, and my heart goes to the victims and their families.

Contrary to what many Israelis are saying, and while the army was clearly caught completely off guard by this invasion, this is not a “unilateral” or “unprovoked” attack.

The dread Israelis are feeling right now, myself included, is...