Over 900 Dead As Israel Declares 'War', Authorises 'Significant Military Steps' To Battle Hamas — Updates
As Israel and Gaza continue to battle, Israel's Finance Minister has confirmed that the casualty count from Hamas’ incursion into Israel has risen to 600.
New Delhi: As Israel and Gaza continue to battle, Israeli Foreign Ministry has confirmed that the casualty count from Hamas’ incursion into Israel has risen to 600, reported news agency Associated Press. This comes as Palestinian officials reported that more than 300 people have been killed in Gaza, taking the overall toll in the conflict above the 900 mark.
In a post on platform X, Israel's Foreign Ministry said, "We are devastated to report that the death toll in Israel has risen to 600. We are doing everything we can to treat the injured and prevent additional casualties. The Hamas terrorists responsible for this atrocity will pay a heavy price."
We are devastated to report that the death toll in Israel has risen to 600.
— Israel ישראל 🇮🇱 (@Israel) October 8, 2023
We are doing everything we can to treat the injured and prevent additional casualties.
The Hamas terrorists responsible for this atrocity will pay a heavy price.
We will continue to share updates… pic.twitter.com/oiMagY8jd8
Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad claimed that it is holding 30 Israelis captive in Gaza, news agency AP reported.
Israel Declares 'War', Authorises 'Significant Military Steps' To Battle Hamas
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said his Security Cabinet has declared the country at war following a deadly Hamas assault in southern Israel.
The decision, announced on Sunday, formally authorizes “the taking of significant military steps,” it said in a statement. “The war that was forced on the State of Israel in a murderous terrorist assault from the Gaza Strip began at 06:00 yesterday,” it said.
Israel's military, which faces questions over its failure to prevent the attack, said it had regained control of most infiltration points, killed hundreds of attackers, and taken dozens more prisoner but was still fighting in some places.
It said it had deployed tens of thousands of soldiers in the area surrounding Gaza, a narrow strip that is home to 2.3 million Palestinians, and planned to evacuate all Israelis living around the frontier of the territory.
"We're going to be attacking Hamas severely and this is going to be a long, long haul," a military spokesman told a briefing with reporters.
In Gaza, Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua said the attack had been "in defence of our people", adding the group's fighters continued rocket strikes and were still conducting operations behind the lines.
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country is at war and Hamas will pay an unprecedented price. “Citizens of Israel, we are at war. This is not an operation, not an escalation – this is war. And we will win. Hamas will pay an unprecedented price,” he said in a video message.
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