The number of Israelis killed since Hamas began its attack on Saturday has jumped to 350, CNN reported citing Israel Defence Forces (IDF).
While addressing a briefing on Sunday, IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said the priorities were to end the fighting in Israeli communities and control breaches in the fence dividing Gaza and Israel, CNN reported.
Four people were injured in rocket attacks in and around the city of Sderot on Sunday, according to Israeli emergency services. One of the victims, a 20-year-old man is in critical condition.
Meanwhile, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is holding a security assessment at IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv, according to Israel PM’s office, The Times of Israel reported. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and other senior security officials are attending the meeting.
Earlier in the day, the IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said the searches for Hamas terrorists were being carried out at several besieged towns and that over 400 terrorists have been killed inside Gaza, with dozens more being held captive, according to The Times of Israel report.
“As of this hour, there are forces fighting in [Kibbutz] Kfar Aza, there are searches in a large number of towns. There are IDF forces in all towns, there is no town that does not have an IDF force in it,” Israel Defense Forces’ top spokesperson, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari was quoted as saying by The Times of Israel.
According to Hagari, the IDF’s mission objectives are to evacuate all civilians from border communities in Gaza, put an end to fighting there, manage security barrier breaches, and keep attacking terrorist targets in the Strip.
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.
Issuing a stern warning to Hamas on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that it had begun a terrible war and that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) would use all of its strength to undermine its capacity.
In a post shared on X, Netanyahu stated, “This morning, on Shabbat and a holiday, Hamas invaded Israeli territory and murdered innocent citizens including children and the elderly. Hamas has started a brutal and evil war. We will be victorious in this war despite an unbearable price. This is a very difficult day for all of us. Hamas wants to murder us all.”
“This is an enemy that murders children and mothers in their homes, in their beds, an enemy that abducts the elderly, children and young women, that slaughters and massacres our citizens, including children, who simply went out to enjoy the holiday. What happened today is unprecedented in Israel – and I will see to it that it does not happen again. The entire government is behind this decision. The IDF will immediately use all its strength to destroy Hamas’s capabilities,” he said.
He added, “We will destroy them and we will forcefully avenge this dark day that they have forced on the State of Israel and its citizens. As Bialik wrote: ‘Revenge for the blood of a little child has yet been devised by Satan’. All of the places which Hamas is deployed, hiding and operating in, that wicked city, we will turn them into rubble. I say to the residents of Gaza: Leave now because we will operate forcefully everywhere. At this hour, the IDF is clearing the terrorists out of the last communities. They are going community by community, house by house, and are restoring our control.”
He offered condolences to the families who lost their loved ones and prayed for those who were injured due to the Hamas attack. He stated that the people of Israel will overcome its enemies.
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