Since the major surprise attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel with a barrage of rockets and a massive ground invasion, the death toll has risen to about 1,000, officials on both sides announced Sunday.
More than 600 Israelis have died in the conflict’s biggest escalation in decades, according to the government press office, while at least 370 dead have been reported in Gaza, with many more injured on both sides.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned of a “long and difficult” conflict ahead as he dispatched thousands of Israeli forces to combat remaining Hamas fighters in the south while the air force once more bombed targets in the Gaza Strip.
As the Israeli army attempted to capture desert areas close to the coastal enclave, free Israeli hostages, and evacuate all locations surrounding Gaza within 24 hours, gun engagements broke out in cities and on highways.
“We’ll reach each and every community until we kill every terrorist in Israel,” vowed military spokesman Daniel Hagari, a day after hundreds of Hamas fighters launched their shock offensive and surged into Israel using vehicles, boats and even motorised paragliders.
At least 100 Israelis were kidnapped by Hamas militants and taken to Gaza, causing shock and outrage throughout the country. Pictures of the bloodied prisoners and bereaved family begging with the government to save them circulated on social media.
Yifat Zailer, 37, expressed her horror after seeing internet video footage of her female cousin and the woman’s children, who were nine months and three years old, in Gaza.
“That’s the only confirmation we have,” she told AFP by phone, her voicing breaking with emotion, and adding there was no information on her cousin’s husband and her elderly parents.
“After the army took control of the kibbutz, they weren’t at home,” she said. “We assume they were kidnapped … We want to know what their condition is, we want them to return safe. They’re innocent civilians.”
Israel also came under attack from the north when Lebanon’s Hezbollah launched guided missiles and artillery shells Sunday “in solidarity” with the unprecedented Hamas offensive, without causing any casualties.
Israel responded with artillery strikes across the UN-patrolled border. “We recommend Hezbollah not to come into this,” said army spokesman Richard Hecht. “If they come, we are ready.”
Israel was taken aback when Hamas began their multi-pronged onslaught at daybreak on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, showering down thousands of rockets while fighters penetrated cities and kibbutz communities and stormed an outdoor rave party hosted beneath the desert sky.
Israeli citizens in a state of panic called media outlets as they sought refuge in their houses from terrorists going door to door and killing or dragging away civilians.
