Over 400 people lost their lives and still counting after Hamas launched an attack on Israel near the Gaza Strip, Times of Israel reported on Sunday.
Among the dead, dozens of soldiers and police were killed in the attack.
Additionally, the Israel-based media outlet claimed that over 2,048 wounded in the deadliest attack are being treated in hospitals, including 20 in critical condition and 330 seriously wounded.
More than 24 hours after Hamas launched rocket attacks followed by an unprecedented ground assault, firefights between forces and terrorists were ongoing in Kfar Aza, close to the Gaza border. The IDF was attempting to neutralise all terrorists still present, The Times of Israel reported.
In a major escalation on Saturday, Hamas launched a “surprise attack” on Israel, firing a barrage of rockets into the southern and central parts of the country.
The toll from the rocket attacks and ground assault by Hamas went past 300 on Sunday, with another 1,864 people reported to be injured.
Several Israelis were taken as hostages in Gaza, the Times of Israel reported citing officials.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern warning to Hamas, claiming that it had begun a terrible war and that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) would use all of its strength to undermine their capacity.
“Hamas forces invaded Israeli territory this morning, on the morning of a holiday and Shabbat, and murdered innocent civilians, children and the elderly. Hamas started a cruel and evil war. We will win this war, but the price is too heavy to bear. This is a very difficult day for all of us,” the Israeli PM posted on ‘X’ on Sunday.
Netanyahu added, “Hamas wants to murder us all. It is an enemy who murders children and mothers in their homes, in their beds. An enemy who kidnaps the elderly, children, and girls. Murderers who slap and slaughter our citizens, our children, who all in all went out to spend the holiday.”He said after what happened in Israel on Saturday, he will make sure that it does not happen again.
Earlier on Sunday, the IDF said Israeli fighter jets hit a military facility at the residence of the terrorist group Hamas’ intelligence chief in Gaza.
Sharing an update on the ongoing counter-offensive on social media platform X, the IDF posted a video and wrote, “Fighter jets recently attacked a military infrastructure at the home of the head of the intelligence department of the terrorist organization Hamas.”
“At this time, the IDF continues its attacks throughout the Gaza Strip,” the IDF added in its post.
The attack, which began at 6.30 am local time (03:30 GMT) on Saturday involved Hamas fighters, who infiltrated Israel by land, sea, and air.
Israel’s military launched a series of air raids on Gaza in response to the attacks.
Senior Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif declared earlier that the attacks were the beginning of “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood”, urging Palestinians all over the world to resist Israeli occupation.
Hamas would pay a “heavy price for its actions”, the Israeli military told citizens living near the Gaza Strip, ordering them to remain inside their houses.
Significantly, Al-Qassam Brigades, the military arm of Hamas, referred to Saturday’s attack on Israel as an effort “in defence of the Al-Aqsa Mosque”, a disputed religious site significant to both Muslims and Jews. (ANI)
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