Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel is "at war" after a suprise offensive by Hamas. The referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament less than one week away. And in cricket, Australia look to limit the run-scoring form of the West Indies' Hayley Matthews as they start a one-day international series.
Listen to Australian and world news, and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts.
TRANSCRIPT
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel is "at war" after a suprise offensive by Hamas.
- The referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament less than one week away.
- Australia look to limit the run-scoring form of the West Indies' Hayley Matthews as they start a one-day international series.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyanhu says the country is "at war" and has launched a counter-offensive in Gaza after Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Saturday.
The Palestinian group launched the biggest attack on Israel in years on Saturday in an assault that combined gunmen crossing into several Israeli towns with a heavy barrage of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip.
Videos released by Hamas militants appear to show fighters celebrating at a border crossing and capturing Israeli soldiers, while Israel’s national rescue service said at least 100 people were killed and hundreds wounded
Footage later released by the Israel Defense Forces has purportedly showed airstrikes against Hamas targets in the Gaza strip, where at least 198 people have been killed and at least 1,610 wounded according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
Hours after the invasion began at daybreak, Hamas militants were still fighting gunbattles inside several Israeli communities.
Mr Netanyahu has convened a meeting of the national Cabinet, saying that his priorities were to "cleanse" the country of enemy forces and "exact a huge price" on them.
"Citizens of Israel, we are at war, not in an operation or in (fighting) rounds, but at war. This morning, Hamas launched a murderous surprise attack against the State of Israel and its citizens. We have been in this since the early morning hours."
Israeli and Palestinian civilians are feeling the effects of the most significant escalation in conflict between the two peoples in years.
Rockets launched by Hamas militants in Gaza struck several regions of Israel, in particular the city of Ashkelon.
One Ashkelon resident described the terrifying moment.
"At around 6 in the morning, a rocket fell here near the house, and due to that everything got burnt, the house destroyed, the windows, and walls, we heard a massive shock, the child was startled, I don't know, we live in a reality that is not real."
And in the Gaza Strip, hundreds of residents have fled their homes fearing retaliation from the Israeli military.
One resident who fled on foot says the community is scared of the violence to come.
"Of course we are in fear, we are afraid of what the Israelis will do. They might wipe us of the face of earth, we fled in fear, I cannot walk, of course we are afraid, may God protect them and us."
The Yes and No campaigns are making their final appeal to voters, with less than one week to go before the Voice to Parliament referendum is held on Saturday October 14.
Both sides are embarking on a frantic final week of campaigning to persuade those still undecided, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese set to visit every state and territory before voting day.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has appealed for a Yes vote at a forum of Mandarin speakers in Melbourne, while No Campaigner Warren was out and about on the streets of Hobart on Saturday.
Minister for Indigenous Affairs Linda Burney has told attendees at a music and cultural festival in far north Queensland she thinks Yes voters will send a "strong message" on October 14.
"We want change, we want a better outcome for our people, and we also want to see our people recognised in the Australian constitution."
Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe has spoken out against the vote at a rally over Indigenous deaths in custody in Melbourne on Saturday.
"You are being conned in this country right now. This is only to appease white guilt, this is not about giving us any rights - at all no rights."
In cricket,
Australia's vice-captain Tahlia McGrath says the team must disrupt the record-breaking form of the West Indies' Hayley Matthews, as their 50-over series begins in Brisbane today.
Matthews' performance was the stand-out in the Twenty20 series, despite Australia winning it two matches to one, becoming the first player to score 300 runs in a three-match women's T-20 international series.
Matthews, 25, also broke the record for the biggest women's Twenty-20 run chase hitting 132 from 64 balls in the second match, and has taken the equal-most wickets of any West Indies player this series.
McGrath says that bowling variety and adaptability will be key to disrupting Matthews' batting form in the O-D-I series.
"She's been a quality player for probably the last 12 to 18 months, her game's just gone to another level,so someone in that good a form, you've got to have a few plans so we've got a few up our sleeve, and it's going to be really interesting to see how she approaches the longer format."
