2023-10-08 10:52:40
The latest casualty count from the further escalation of violence between Israel and the Palestinians is 300 dead on the Israeli side and 1,864 injured, of whom 19 are in critical condition and 326 in serious condition; Meanwhile, 313 Gazans have died, including 20 children, and another 1,990 are injured.
Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel, in pictures
Although the Israeli Army has confirmed that at least 26 of its men were among the fatalities, the brunt has been borne by civilians, on both sides. In Israel, many died from the massive attack launched by the Palestinian group Hamas early yesterday, with the launch of thousands of rockets in the air and the incursion of militiamen on the ground. Television has broadcast the testimonies of civilians whose relatives have been kidnapped by Hamas gunmen and it is not known what fate they have suffered. It is still unknown how many civilians and soldiers, dead and alive, are in the hands of the Palestinian group and have been taken to the Gaza Strip.
This Sunday, Israeli troops have regained control of 29 places in southern Israel that were taken yesterday by Hamas, but fighting continues with Palestinian militiamen in some points, which they gained access to yesterday after demolishing part of the valley that separates Gaza from Israel and infiltrate numerous surrounding towns.
The commander of the Israeli Border Police, Amir Cohen, has welcomed the fact that security forces regained control of a police station in the city of Sderot, near Gaza, which was attacked on Saturday.
Bombings on Gaza
The population of the strip is suffering retaliation from the Israeli Army which, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said last night, will use “all its power to destroy the capabilities of Hamas.” “We will destroy them and forcefully avenge this dark day that they have imposed on the State of Israel and its citizens,” he warned in a televised speech.
After a night of intense bombing of Gaza, Netanyahu stated this morning that “Hamas has started a brutal and evil war.” “What has happened in Israel is unprecedented – and I will see that it will not happen again,” has promised through the social network (formerly Twitter).
Netanyahu met this morning with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Chief of the Defense Staff Herzl Halevi, and other senior security officials to assess the situation on the second day of escalation.
The Israeli Army has reported that they have attacked more than 400 targets in the strip, supposedly belonging to the Islamist group Hamas. However, residential buildings have also been bombed and Israeli forces have asked residents to leave them. “Hamas operations are forcing the Israeli Army to operate in its place of residence. For your safety, you must leave immediately,” said a military spokesman, warning the Gazan population.
The northern front
In addition, the Israeli Army has also bombed southern Lebanon with drones, in the disputed Cheba Farms area, after the Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah launched several projectiles towards Israel in support of the Hamas operation in southern Israel. .
Hezbollah has reported the attack with mortar shells and guided missiles against three positions in Israeli territory, stating that these actions are part of the “path towards the liberation of what remains of our occupied Lebanese land, and in solidarity with the victorious Palestinian resistance.” and the fighting and patient Palestinian people.”
The Lebanese National News Agency has noted that several villages “were the target of a violent Israeli artillery bombardment.” “The enemy army [de Israel] bombed occupied regions after announcing that its positions in Chebaa and Jabal al-Sheikh were the target of a bombardment from within Lebanon,” he detailed.
In Israel, residents in areas bordering Lebanon have been asked to stay home and close to shelters in case of further attacks. According to the Israeli newspaper Time, residents of the city of Kiryat Shmona have been advised to evacuate the area for a few days, as a precaution, while tension remains high.
Shooting in Egypt
On the other hand, a strange incident has been recorded in Egypt, in the city of Alexandria, where two Israeli tourists have been shot dead by a police officer. According to a security source cited by Agencia EFE, the agent fired “indiscriminately using his weapon against the group of Israeli tourists, causing the death of two and wounding others.”
The shooting took place in the area of Pompeo’s Column, one of the archaeological sites in Alexandria, and the police officer who opened fire was in charge of security in the area, but it is not known what reasons led him to fire his weapon at the group of tourists. Israeli citizens can travel to Egypt with a tourist visa and can even visit the Sinai Peninsula, with which they share a border, without a visa. It is not common for Israelis to go beyond the coastal towns of the Sinai, where for years there have been no attacks or incidents involving tourists from the neighboring country.
However, in Egypt there is a strong anti-Israeli sentiment among the population, despite the fact that the Government in Cairo maintains fluid diplomatic relations with Israel and, even, both countries cooperate on security issues on the common border.
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