Israel
said it recaptured Gaza border areas from the Hamas group as the ferocious
fighting entered Day 5, leaving thousands killed on both sides. There was also
an exchange of fire between Israel and forces in Syria last evening.
The death toll
in Israel has risen above 1,200 from the worst attack in the country’s history,
while Gaza officials have reported 765 people killed so far. Israel Army also
said it had recovered the bodies of around 1,500 Hamas operatives inside
Israel.
At least
30 more people were killed in overnight strikes by Israel targeting Hamas spots
in Gaza. The Israel Army said fighter jets destroyed “advanced detection systems”
that Hamas used to spot military aircraft.
The
Palestinian group has threatened to execute one hostage every time Israel drops
a bomb, without warning, on a Palestinian home in the Gaza Strip.
“Every
targeting of our people without warning will be met with the execution of one
of the civilian hostages,” the armed wing of Hamas has warned Israel. The group
has 150 hostages, including children.
The threat
came after Israel imposed a total siege on the Gaza Strip, cutting off the
water supply. The move has sparked fears that an already dire humanitarian
situation will further deteriorate.
The Israel
Army yesterday said there had been “a number of launches from Syria into
Israeli territory”.
“Soldiers
are responding with artillery and mortar shells toward the origin of the
launching in Syria,” an Israeli Army statement said. Hamas fired rockets
towards Israel from Lebanon as well on Tuesday, prompting Israeli attacks on
positions belonging to Hezbollah.
Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Israel’s military operation – following
Saturday’s mass breach by the Palestinian group – is only the start of a
sustained war to destroy Hamas and “change the Middle East”.
He
compared the large-scale slaughter of Israeli civilians to the atrocities
committed by ISIS, when they controlled vast swathes of Syria and Iraq. “Hamas
terrorists bound, burned and executed children. They are savages. Hamas is
ISIS,” Netanyahu said.
Key ally US
stressed its full support for Israel, as did the UK, France, Germany and Italy.
“We “recognise the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people” but said
Hamas “offers nothing for the Palestinian people other than more terror and
bloodshed”, their leaders said in a joint statement.
President
Joe Biden condemned the attacks by Hamas on US ally Israel as “sheer evil” in
an emotional speech Tuesday and said Washington is ready to deploy more
military assets to the region. In a solidarity visit, US Secretary of State
Antony Blinken will be traveling to Israel today to meet with senior Israeli
leaders. “It will be a message of solidarity and support,” said US State
Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.
Besides
the US, several countries have reported their citizens killed, abducted or
missing – including Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Ireland, Mexico, Nepal, Panama,
Paraguay, Russia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Ukraine. Many of the missing
foreigners were at a music festival in the southern Israeli desert when Hamas
attacked Israel.
Agencies
