Missile strikes, gunmen on the streets as Hamas attack on Israel kills over 300

At least 300 people have been killed in Israel in the unprecedented attack launched by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which began on Saturday morning.

The retaliatory military action, Operation Iron Swords, launched by the Israel Defence Force, claimed over 230 lives in Gaza and the West Bank.

The intense fight between the Israeli military and Hamas militants is still ongoing in southern Israel. According to the latest report, rocket sirens have been sounded in regions like Sderot and Kibbutz Nir Am. An Israeli army spokesperson said the situation was not fully under control.

The Israeli bombardment of Gaza also continued into Sunday morning.

The death toll in Israel from the attack by Hamas has risen to 300, as reported by Israeli media, citing official sources. More than 1,600 people have been injured in Israel in the biggest attack by Palestinian militants in decades.

According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, around 230 people have been killed in Israeli bombings in the Gaza Strip. Deaths have also been reported in the West Bank region. At least 1,700 people were wounded in Operation Iron Swords conducted by Israel.

The fighting between the Israel Defense Force (IDF) and Hamas was still ongoing on Sunday morning. Israeli media reported that rocket sirens continued to sound in many parts of Southern Israel. Areas such as Sderot, Kibbutz Nir Am, Yad Mordechai, and Netiv Ha’asara, all located near the Gaza Strip, heard the warnings. In a briefing on social media, an Israeli army spokesperson said the situation was not fully under control.

The high-scale Israeli air raids on Gaza also continued on Sunday. The densely populated centre of Gaza City and several other places saw heavy bombing overnight.

The Israeli government has snapped up electricity supply to the Gaza Strip amid the escalation. The energy minister said he ordered the Israeli electricity company to halt power supply to the Gaza Strip on Saturday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on Sunday morning, said that the country is embarking on a “long and difficult war” adding that it will go on “until the goals are achieved”.

“The war was forced upon us by a murderous attack by Hamas. The first phase ends in these hours by destroying most of the enemy forces that have penetrated our territory. At the same time, we started the offensive formation and it will continue without reservation and without respite – until the goals are achieved. We will restore security to the citizens of Israel and we will win,” Netanyahu wrote on X.

US President Joe Biden has approved an emergency military aid package to Israel worth $8 billion. Biden talked to Netanyahu on Saturday and affirmed his full support for Israel’s “right to self-defence”. Netanyahu thanked Biden for the “unreserved support” as he stressed the need for a “prolonged campaign” against Hamas.

Iran’s foreign ministry backed the Hamas group by saying that the attack on Israel was an “act of self-defence” by Palestinians, and called on Muslim countries to support their rights. Reports claims that there were celebrations in Iran, calling the Hamas move a “proud operation”.

Meanwhile, Turkey said that the country is ready to de-escalate the situation. The Turkish Foreign Minister has dialled his regional counterparts to discuss the fighting between Israel and Palestinians.

Meanwhile, Hamas accused Israel of leasing the region to this situation. The militant group said its surprise offensive by land, air and sea was in response to “Israeli atrocities” against Palestinians over the decades and “desecration of the Al Aqsa Mosque”.

Hamas have taken several Israeli citizens, including women and children, as hostages. According to top Hamas leaders, the Israeli prisoners under their custody were ‘several times greater’ than dozens. They said that the militant group has enough captives to make Israel free all the Palestinian prisoners in its jails.

The Indian embassy at Tel Aviv and the Representative Office of India in Palestine, meanwhile, issued advisories asking Indian nationals in respective countries to “remain vigilant” and “directly contact the Office” in case of emergency.