Swords of Iron: Here is what happened on days 1 and 2

During the meetings that Prime Minister Netanyahu initiated today with opposition leader Yair Lapid and the chairman of the state camp MK Benny Gantz, Netanyahu offered both of them entry into a broad emergency government, Israeli media reported.

This is in the same format according to which the late opposition leader Menachem Begin joined the Eshkol government on the eve of the Six-Day War.

The Taliban has reportedly asked Iran for passage to Israel to help Hamas continue it’s terror against the Jewish state, according to multiple foreign media reports from October 7.

The Taliban has allegedly asked for passage to ‘conquer Jerusalem’ if Iran, Jordan and Iraq are willing to support their troops.

BREAKING:

The Taliban have announced that they have asked Iran, Iraq and Jordan to grant them passage to Israel.

They have stated that their intent is to "conquer Jerusalem” pic.twitter.com/X5eLnPTboS

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) October 7, 2023

The United Nations peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon said on Saturday it had enhanced its presence in its areas of operations near Lebanon's southern border with Israel, including "counter rocket-launching operations."

There have been fears of spillover since Palestinian Islamist group Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel.

A nurse and an ambulance driver were killed in Israeli strikes on two hospitals in Gaza on Saturday, medical aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said.

The strikes injured several people and damaged an oxygen station, MSF said on social media platform X.

Israel Railways announced that in coordination with the IDF, they will operate special trains from north to south for IDF soldiers, according to requirements and demand.

The railway announced that due to the security situation, train traffic at Ofakim, Nitivot, and Sderot stations will not resume until further notice.

The commander of the Sderot fire station and one firefighter from the station were killed in the exchange of fire with Hamas terrorists on Saturday.

This is a developing story.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to X on Saturday to share his support for the people of Israel suffering under the latest barrage of terror from Hamas.

Modi wrote that he was "Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour."

Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 7, 2023

Austria's foreign ministry shared on X that they were flying the Israeli flag on top of their building in solidarity with Israelis suffering under Hamas' wave of terror attack.

"We stand in solidarity with our Israeli partners. There is no excuse for terror!," the Ministry wrote.

We stand in solidarity with our Israeli partners.
There is no excuse for terror! pic.twitter.com/ZRwnTlTlxP

— MFA Austria (@MFA_Austria) October 7, 2023

The United States' State Department said that they would be in close contact with Israeli officials in light of Hamas' new attack on Israel.

"The United States condemns the horrific attacks against Israel. There is never any justification for terrorism. We will remain in close contact with our Israeli partners," US State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller said in an X post.

The United States condemns the horrific attacks against Israel. There is never any justification for terrorism. We will remain in close contact with our Israeli partners. https://t.co/1WaTbWKCfG

— Matthew Miller (@StateDeptSpox) October 7, 2023

Hamas has taken hostages and prisoners of war, the IDF confirmed on Saturday. 

It added that some soldiers have also been killed.