Israel Defense Force was surprised and Hamas was able to reach several major towns with populations of around 30,000 people. The live conflict map shows that Israel retaliated with artillery and air strikes, including the use of attack helicopters and fighter jets. However, Hamas was reportedly able to strike deep enough to force Israel to evacuate one of their air bases near the Gaza Strip. Footage from social media shows firefights and Hamas gunmen patrolling the countryside. The rocket attacks have reached Tel Aviv, causing internet activity to go down. Israel has a large military force, with 170,000 active duty personnel and 465,000 reserve forces. In response to the attacks, Israel is prepared to mobilize hundreds of thousands of reservists. The defenses along the region are spread out checkpoints rather than one continuous front line due to the expense and manpower required for a continuous fortification. It is reported that Hamas has captured Israeli tanks and armored vehicles, which could be a valuable asset for them. Overall, Israel is facing between 25,000 and 40,000 militant fighters from Hamas.
