ATLANTA — State leaders are reacting to the Saturday morning attack in Israel by the militant group Hamas.
The Israeli government has confirmed that at least 70 people have died.
Military officials say the fighting with Hamas took place in 22 places across the country.
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“We are at war,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an address to the nation. “Not an ‘operation,’ not a ‘round,’ but a war.”
Georgia officials, like Governor Brian Kemp, are joining international leaders in condemning the violence and showing their support for Israel.
Senator Raphael Warnock said he was “deeply saddened and alarmed” by the attacking.
“We must condemn terrorism in all its forms,” he added.
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Rep. Lucy McBath said the nation of Israel has “every right to defend herself from the violence being perpetrated against her.”
Republican Reps. Andrew Clyde and Buddy Carter shared similar statements.
“I strongly condemn these horrific, senseless, and unprovoked acts of terror against innocent Israelis,” Clyde wrote.
Rep. Hank Johnson released a statement saying “only dialogue” can bring peace, not “violence and war.”
Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper said the U.S. needs to send a “clear unequivocal message...that we stand firmly with our nation’s number one ally.”
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The Hamas attack on Israel A bicycle was targeted and two young Palestinian militants were killed near the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel on October 7, 2023 in Gaza City, Gaza. The Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a missile attack on Israel today, with fighters simultaneously crossing the border from Gaza. Israel has declared a state of war. (Getty Images/Getty Images)
The Hamas attack on Israel A general view of damage caused by Israeli air strikes on October 7, 2023 in Gaza City, Gaza. The Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a missile attack on Israel today, with fighters simultaneously crossing the border from Gaza. Israel has declared a state of war. (Getty Images/Getty Images)
The Hamas attack on Israel A general view of damage caused by Israeli air strikes on October 7, 2023 in Gaza City, Gaza. The Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a missile attack on Israel today, with fighters simultaneously crossing the border from Gaza. Israel has declared a state of war. (Getty Images/Getty Images)
The Hamas attack on Israel A general view of damage caused by Israeli air strikes on October 7, 2023 in Gaza City, Gaza. The Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a missile attack on Israel today, with fighters simultaneously crossing the border from Gaza. Israel has declared a state of war. (Getty Images/Getty Images)
The Hamas attack on Israel A paramedic helps an injured man near the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel on October 7, 2023, in Gaza City, Gaza. The Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a missile attack on Israel today, with fighters simultaneously crossing the border from Gaza. Israel has declared a state of war. (Getty Images/Getty Images)
The Hamas attack on Israel Palestinian citizens stand near an Israeli enclave seized from the Israeli occupation near the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel on October 7, 2023, in Gaza City, Gaza. The Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a missile attack on Israel today, with fighters simultaneously crossing the border from Gaza. Israel has declared a state of war. (Getty Images/Getty Images)
The Hamas attack on Israel A young man carries an injured man on his bicycle near the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel on October 7, 2023 in Gaza City, Gaza. The Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a missile attack on Israel today, with fighters simultaneously crossing the border from Gaza. Israel has declared a state of war. (Getty Images/Getty Images)
The Hamas attack on Israel Palestinians celebrate by a destroyed Israeli tank at the Gaza Strip fence east of Khan Younis on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. The militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel at daybreak Saturday, firing thousands of rockets as dozens of Hamas fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border in several locations by air, land, and sea and catching the country off-guard on a major holiday. (Hassan Eslaiah/AP)
The Hamas attack Israel Cars are on fire after they were hit by rockets from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, Israel, on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip infiltrated Saturday into southern Israel and fired thousands of rockets into the country while Israel began striking targets in Gaza in response. (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP)
The Hamas attack Israel A rocket from the Gaza Strip struck a street in Ashkelon, Israel, on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip infiltrated Saturday into southern Israel and fired thousands of rockets into the country while Israel began striking targets in Gaza in response. (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP)
The Hamas attack Israel: Palestinians wave their national flag and celebrate by a destroyed Israeli tank at the Gaza Strip fence east of Khan Younis southern Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. The militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel at daybreak Saturday, firing thousands of rockets as dozens of Hamas fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border in several locations by air, land, and sea and catching the country off-guard on a major holiday. (Yousef Masoud/AP)
The Hamas attack Israel: Palestinian militants drive back to the Gaza Strip with the body of an Israeli soldier on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. The militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel at daybreak Saturday, firing thousands of rockets as dozens of Hamas fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border in several locations by air, land, and sea and catching the country off-guard on a major holiday. (Ali Mahmud/AP)
The Hamas attack Israel: Palestinians wave their national flag and celebrate by a destroyed Israeli tank at the Gaza Strip fence east of Khan Younis southern Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. The militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel at daybreak Saturday, firing thousands of rockets as dozens of Hamas fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border in several locations by air, land, and sea and catching the country off-guard on a major holiday. (Yousef Masoud/AP)
The Hamas attack Israel: Cars are on fire after they were hit by rockets from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, Israel, on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip infiltrated Saturday into southern Israel and fired thousands of rockets into the country while Israel began striking targets in Gaza in response. (Ohad Zwigenberg)
The Hamas attack Israel: Cars are on fire after they were hit by rockets from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, Israel, on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip infiltrated Saturday into southern Israel and fired thousands of rockets into the country while Israel began striking targets in Gaza in response. (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP)
The Hamas attack Israel: A column of smoke rises from the south of Israel on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip infiltrated Saturday into southern Israel and fired thousands of rockets into the country while Israel began striking targets in Gaza in response. (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP)
The Hamas attack Israel: Residents look at damage after a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, Israel, on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip infiltrated Saturday into southern Israel and fired thousands of rockets into the country while Israel began striking targets in Gaza in response. (Ohad Zwigenberg)
The Hamas attack Israel: Cars are on fire after they were hit by rockets from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, Israel, on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip infiltrated Saturday into southern Israel and fired thousands of rockets into the country while Israel began striking targets in Gaza in response. (Ohad Zwigenberg)
The Hamas attack Israel: Rockets are fired toward Israel from the Gaza Strip, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. The rockets were fired as Hamas announced a new operation against Israel. (Fatima Shbair)
The Hamas attack Israel: A column of smoke rises from the south of Israel on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip infiltrated Saturday into southern Israel and fired thousands of rockets into the country while Israel began striking targets in Gaza in response. (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP)
The Hamas attack Israel: Israeli soldiers head south near Ashkelon, Israel, Israel, on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip infiltrated Saturday into southern Israel and fired thousands of rockets into the country while Israel began striking targets in Gaza in response. (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP)
Israel attacks Hamas: A building was damaged after being hit by a rocket fired from Gaza strip on Saturday in Tel Aviv. (Amir Levy/Getty Images)
The Hamas attacks Israel: Israeli security forces work at the scene where a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip hit a building on Saturday in Tel Aviv. (Amir Levy/Getty Images)
The Hamas attacks Israel: A man passes the scene where a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip hit a building in Tel Aviv. (Amir Levy/Getty Images)
The Hamas attacks Israel: Smoke and flames rise on the Gaza Strip after being attacked by Israeli forces on Sunday. (Anadolu Agency/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
The Hamas attacks Israel: Palestinians fire rockets in response to Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip on Sunday. (Anadolu Agency/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
The Hamas attacks Israel: Smoke and flames rise after Israeli forces strike targets in the Gaza Strip on Sunday. (Anadolu Agency/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
The Hamas attack on Israel Palestinian citizens inspect damage to their homes caused by Israeli airstrikes on October 08, 2023 in Gaza City, Gaza. After the attack launched by Hamas on Israel yesterday, which surprised them, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked the Palestinians to leave Gaza, and warned that the army would turn Hamas positions “into rubble.” (Getty Images/Getty Images)
The Hamas attack on Israel Palestinian citizens inspect damage to their homes caused by Israeli airstrikes on October 08, 2023 in Gaza City, Gaza. After the attack launched by Hamas on Israel yesterday, which surprised them, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked the Palestinians to leave Gaza, and warned that the army would turn Hamas positions “into rubble.” (Getty Images/Getty Images)
The Hamas attack on Israel Palestinian citizens inspect damage to their homes caused by Israeli airstrikes on October 08, 2023 in Gaza City, Gaza. After the attack launched by Hamas on Israel yesterday, which surprised them, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked the Palestinians to leave Gaza, and warned that the army would turn Hamas positions “into rubble.” (Getty Images/Getty Images)
The Hamas attack on Israel Palestinian citizens inspect damage to their homes caused by Israeli airstrikes on October 08, 2023 in Gaza City, Gaza. After the attack launched by Hamas on Israel yesterday, which surprised them, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked the Palestinians to leave Gaza, and warned that the army would turn Hamas positions “into rubble.” (Getty Images/Getty Images)
The Hamas attack on Israel Israeli rescue members work at a police station that was destroyed after a battle between Israeli troops and Hamas militants on October 8, 2023 in Sderot, Israel. On Saturday, the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched the largest surprise attack from Gaza in a generation, sending thousands of missiles and an unknown number of fighters by land, who shot and kidnapped Israelis in communities near the Gaza border. The attack prompted retaliatory strikes on Gaza and a declaration of war by the Israeli prime minister. (Amir Levy/Getty Images)
The Hamas attack on Israel Rockets were fired towards Israel on October 8, 2023 at Gaza City, Gaza. After the attack launched by Hamas on Israel yesterday, which surprised them, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked the Palestinians to leave Gaza, and warned that the army would turn Hamas positions “into rubble.” (Getty Images/Getty Images)
The Hamas attack on Israel Israeli rescue members work at a police station that was destroyed after a battle between Israeli troops and Hamas militants on October 8, 2023 in Sderot, Israel. On Saturday, the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched the largest surprise attack from Gaza in a generation, sending thousands of missiles and an unknown number of fighters by land, who shot and kidnapped Israelis in communities near the Gaza border. The attack prompted retaliatory strikes on Gaza and a declaration of war by the Israeli prime minister. (Amir Levy/Getty Images)
The Hamas attack Israel Palestinian citizens inspect damage to their homes caused by Israeli airstrikes on Sunday in Gaza City, Gaza. (Getty Images/Getty Images)
The Hamas attack Israel: Palestinian citizens inspect damage to their homes after Israel retaliated with airstrikes on Sunday in Gaza City, Gaza. (Getty Images/Getty Images)
The Hamas attack Israel: Palestinian citizens inspect damage to their homes and business after Sunday's airstrikes by Israel in the Gaza Strip. (Getty Images/Getty Images)
The Hamas attack Israel: Israeli airstrikes caused extensive damage in Gaza City on Sunday. (Getty Images/Getty Images)
The Hamas attack Israel: Fire and smoke rise above buildings in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike on Sunday. (MAHMUD HAMS/AFP via Getty Images)
The Hamas attack Israel: A missile explodes in Gaza City during an Israeli airstrike on Sunday. (MAHMUD HAMS/AFP via Getty Images)