Nearly 1,000 killed in Israel-Gaza War over 2 days

www.mangaloretoday.com

Jeerusalem, Oct 8, 2023: The death count has surged to almost 1,000 since the Hamas group launched a terror attack on Israel with a barrage of rockets and a large-scale ground assault. The war has killed over 600 on the Israeli side, while Gaza reported at least 370 deaths.

Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah said it fired "large numbers of artillery shells and guided missiles" at Israeli positions in a contested border area. It said the assault was "in solidarity" with the attack launched by Hamas.

The conflict’s bloodiest escalation in decades saw Hamas carry out a massive rocket barrage and ground, air and sea offensive, that reports said had killed 600 Israelis and wounded 1,000. Gaza officials said intense Israeli air strikes on the coastal enclave had brought the Palestinian death count to at least 400, with nearly 1,700 wounded.

Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to avenge what he said was a "black day" for Israel. "The IDF (army) is about to use all its force to destroy Hamas’s capabilities. We’ll strike them to the bitter end and avenge with force this black day they brought on Israel and its people," he said.

He warned Palestinians living near Hamas sites in Gaza to leave as he vowed to turn its hideouts into "rubble" following its surprise attack. "I’m telling the people of Gaza: get out of there now, because we’re about to act everywhere with all our force," he said.

Israeli officials said about 100 soldiers and civilians have been kidnapped by Hamas. "Terrorists rampaged and broke into homes, massacring civilians. Hundreds had invaded the country, hundreds are still fighting troops inside Israel," army spokesman Richard Hecht said.