Israeli forces are still battling against Hamas fighters in several locations on their own territory, as hundreds of targets have been hit in Gaza overnight following Saturday’s wide-ranging attack.
More than two days after Hamas launched its unprecedented incursion out of Gaza, the Israeli military said on Monday it is still battling militants holed up in “seven to eight” places in southern Israel.
Military spokesperson Richard Hecht said it was taking longer than expected to repel the incursion because there were still multiple breaches in the border, which Hamas could be using to bring in more fighters and weapons.
Israeli fighter jets, helicopters and artillery struck over 500 of Hamas and Islamic Jihad targets in the Gaza Strip overnight on Monday and had sent four combat divisions south where it continued to battle the Islamist militants.
At least 700 people have reportedly been killed in Israel — a staggering toll on a scale the country has not experienced in decades — and more than 400 have been killed in Gaza. Palestinian militant groups claimed to be holding over 130 captives from the Israeli side.
An Israeli rescue service said its paramedics removed more than 260 bodies from a music festival that came under attack by Hamas militants.
Early on Saturday morning, Hamas targeted the Nova music festival, a techno rave in the desert near the border with Gaza. British citizen Jacob Marlowe is among the missing after the festival was stormed by militants.