More than 700 Israelis have been reportedly killed and thousands more have been injured following an unprecedented attack by Hamas militants, several local media outlets have reported including Times of Israel and N12.
Israel and Hamas fighters are still trading fire in Israeli towns a day after the Palestinian militants breached the heavily fortified border from Gaza and poured into nearby settlements, killing and taking hostage both soldiers and civilians in an unprecedented attack.
British citizen Jacob Marlowe is among the missing after Hamas stormed a music festival and seized partygoers as hostages on Saturday morning.
Hamas fighters have also taken an unknown number of civilians and soldiers captive into Gaza.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has released footage of a missile strike it claims took place on a compound belonging to Hamas’ head of military intelligence, adding it had also targeted two banks belonging to the terrorist organisation and aerial weapons production sites in Gaza.
“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,” he is quoted as saying in The Times of Israel.
Speaking at a briefing this morning, he added: “Hamas brutal attack is a war crime. 600 Israeli civilians were feared dead, and thousands more were injured in the Hamas attack.
“Taking women and children captive violates international law and goes against Islam. Whoever took part will pay the price.
“The war is difficult, and challenging days lie ahead. The IDF is strong and will use every bit of its strength and power.”
Israeli ambassador to the United Kingdom Tzipi Hotovely has blamed Iran for supporting Hamas ahead of Saturday’s attack.
She told Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips on Sky News, “Iran is backing up Hamas; Iran is destabilising the region with its proxies.
“We are willing to take a long fighting time to defend our people; we must make sure no one has the motivation to do that again.”
READ ALSO: Hamas Surprise Attack on Israel Leaves Hundreds Dead, Thousands Wounded
At least 26 Israeli soldiers have been killed in an attack by the Hamas militant group on the country´s south, Israel’s military confirmed.
And at least 313 Palestinians have been killed, and nearly 2,000 injured, in retaliatory Israeli military action since yesterday, the country’s health ministry has said.
Among them is British Nathaniel Young, from London, who was serving in the 13th Battalion of the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) when he was killed yesterday, according to the IDF.
In a statement posted on social media, his family said: “We’re heartbroken to share that our little Brother Nathaniel Young was tragically killed on the Gaza Border yesterday.”
He is the first confirmed British casualty of the worst violence in the region for decades, since Palestinian militants launched cross-border raids early on Saturday morning.
Meanwhile, the Israeli rescue service Zaka said its paramedics removed about 260 bodies from a music festival attended by thousands that came under attack by Hamas militants.
The total figure is expected to be higher as other paramedic teams were working in the area.
Videos aired on social media and by Israeli news outlets showed dozens of festival goers running through an open field as gunshots rang out at Nova festival.
Many hid in nearby fruit orchards or were gunned down as they fled.