There were scenes of jubilation in the blockaded Gaza Strip as Palestinian fighters returned to the coastal enclave after the surprise attacks in southern Israel, according to photos and video posted on social media.

Unconfirmed reports from Gaza indicated that several Israelis had been taken there, and it was not known whether they were alive. A video appeared to show captured people — both dead and alive — and military vehicles.

Palestinians in Gaza have been living under a suffocating 16-year land, air, and sea blockade by Israel, backed by Egypt, that has led to nearly 50 per cent unemployment and deteriorating living conditions, medicine supply and infrastructure. More than
two million Palestinians live there.

Some residents gathered along Gaza’s northern border to cheer the return of Palestinian fighters from armed groups who were part of the surprise attack, including Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

“This is a big surprise for our people in Gaza and our people in the West Bank and our people in Jerusalem,” Ahmed Amro, a 19-year-old Gaza resident, said as he watched people head to the northern Gaza Strip to greet returning Palestinian fighters.

Referring to periodic Israeli raids on the Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem and increasing Jewish worship at the site, which is sacred to Muslims and Jews, he added, “This came as a surprise to liberate the Aqsa Mosque from the violations of the occupation.”

Many others in Gaza flocked to supermarkets and shops to stock up on Saturday morning, fearing the Israeli response. Schools were suspended across the Gaza Strip, and students were sent home.

US with Israel: Biden

US President Joe Biden on Saturday vowed to stand with Israel and expressed readiness to offer all appropriate means of support to the Jewish nation.

“The United States unequivocally condemns this appalling assault against Israel by Hamas terrorists from Gaza, and I made clear to Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu that we stand ready to offer all appropriate means of support to the Government and people of Israel,” said President Biden, who is personally monitoring the situation and spoke with Netanyahu on the horrific and ongoing attacks in Israel.

New York Times News Service and Reuters