Shocking video shows militants capturing Israeli soldier and tearing down border fences

Terrifying footage has emerged of Palestinian Islamist militants brutally capturing an Israeli soldier from a destroyed tank and ripping down border fences.

Hamas troops have launched a huge surprise attack on Israel on Saturday morning, firing thousands of rockets from the Gaza Strip and infiltrating the country.

A shocking video shows dozens of armed fighters pulling an Israeli soldier from a tank and dragging him away while screaming and cheering.

Smoke can be seen billowing into the sky as the militants tear the border fences to the ground and surge through.

Gunshots are heard firing and a large digger-type vehicle smashes into the barrier.

In a separate video, the Hamas fighters were filmed driving around in a captured military vehicle through Gaza City centre before blocking traffic, standing on the truck and firing gunshots into the air.

Sirens can be heard wailing as they carry out what the elusive leader of Hamas’ military wing, Mohammed Deif, labelled ‘Operation Al-Aqsa Storm’.

Palestinian militants captured an Israeli soldier from a burning tank on the border (Picture: Reuters)

Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have hit back with fighter jets striking targets in Gaza and prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said ‘we are at war and we will win’.

Defence minister Yoav Gallant warned Hamas has ‘made a grave mistake’ in launching a war by firing rockets into southern and central Israel and breaching the border.

He said: ‘IDF troops are fighting against the enemy at every location. The state of Israel will win this war.’

A call up for military reserve forces has also been approved to help repel the Hamas attacks.

Several people have reportedly been killed and hundreds more seriously injured.

Hamas fighters smashed through the border fence and infiltrated the country (Picture: Reuters)

Palestinians took control of an Israeli tank after crossing the border fence (Picture: AFP via Getty)

‘Today the people are regaining their revolution,’ Mr Deif said in a recorded message, as he called on Palestinians from east Jerusalem to northern Israel to join the fight and ‘expel the occupiers and demolish the walls’.

He added: ‘We must set the earth on fire under the feet of the occupiers.’

The Israeli PM, Mr Netanyahu, said: ‘Citizens of Israel, we are at war, not an operation, not an escalation, a war.

‘This morning Hamas launched a murderous surprise attack against the state of Israel and its citizens. We’ve been at it since early morning.’

He said that he has ‘convened the heads of the security system’ and instructed them to ‘cleanse the settlements of the terrorists who had infiltrated’.

Palestinians ride an Israeli military jeep in the streets of Gaza during the storming of Israeli settlements on Saturday (Picture: EPA)

Fighters danced on the vehicle, celebrated and fired gunshots into the sky (Picture: EPA)

Mr Netanyahu added: ‘At the same time, I ordered an extensive reserve mobilization and a retaliatory war with a strength and scope that the enemy had never known.

‘The enemy will pay a price he has never known. In the meantime, I call on all citizens of Israel to strictly obey the instructions of the army and the instructions of the home command.

‘We are in a war and we will win it.’

Explosions and fires have been reported in numerous areas (Picture: AFP via Getty)

Smoke rises from buildings in Gaza after Israel retaliated with strikes of its own (Picture: Reuters)

The UK’s foreign secretary James Cleverly has condemned the ‘horrific’ attacks.

He wrote on social media: ‘The UK unequivocally condemns the horrific attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians. The UK will always support Israel’s right to defend itself.’

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer echoed Mr Cleverly and said: ‘I utterly condemn the ongoing attacks on Israel and her citizens.

‘There is no justification for this act of terror which is being perpetrated by those who seek to undermine any chance for future peace in the region.

‘Israel has a right to defend herself.’

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