Tel Aviv: Around 1,500 bodies of Hamas militants were found in Israel around the Gaza Strip, the AFP quoted Israeli army, which intensified its bombardment of the Palestinian enclave since Saturday’s unprecedented incursion, as saying on Tuesday.
The security forces have “more or less restored control over the border” with Gaza, military spokesman Richard Hecht asserted, adding that no Hamas fighters have crossed into Israel since last night, although infiltrations could still be possible.
Israel pummelled the besieged enclave, where Hamas’ administrative centres are located, with more than 200 air raids that continued into early Tuesday after Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised punishment against the Islamic militant group that will “reverberate for generations.”
The Israeli military further said that Hamas operatives had “nowhere to hide in Gaza” amid intensive air strikes being carried out in the Palestinian enclave in waves every four hours. “We will reach them (Hamas) everywhere,” chief military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in a briefing.
According to Reuters, Israel has sent transports to Europe to fly back hundreds of Israelis there who will serve as military reservists in the Gaza war raging since the weekend.
Meanwhile, Palestine’s Hamas group has threatened to execute an Israeli captive each time Israel targeted a Palestinian home without prior notice. “Every targeting of our people without warning will be met with the execution of one of the civilian hostages,” the armed wing warned while claiming that Israel airstrikes killed four of their citizens held as hostages in Gaza.
Israel had earlier confirmed that Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza are holding more than 150 soldiers and civilians hostages. At least 900 people, including over 260 at the site of a music festival, were killed in the Hamas attacks inside Israel.
China’s foreign ministry said it is working to verify reports on two Chinese nationals being killed in Israel.
Reports said that more than 680 people have been killed in Gaza. “Mass displacement escalated in past 24 hours across the Gaza Strip, reaching 180,000 people – expected to increase further,” the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees posted on X.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health has called for a “safe corridor to ensure the entry of urgent medical aid” into Gaza’s hospitals, overwhelmed with the dead and wounded, according to Aljazeera.
Since the attacks began on Saturday morning, Israel has stopped all supplies entering Gaza, including food and medicine. On Monday, it declared a “complete siege” on the territory, saying electricity, food, fuel and water would be cut off.
Meanwhile in India, the Delhi Police has increased security around the Israeli consulate and Chabad House in the city.
