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Palestinians inspect the destruction around Ahmed Yassin mosque, which was levelled by Israeli airstrikes, in Gaza, October 9, 2023. /CFP
Palestinians inspect the destruction around Ahmed Yassin mosque, which was levelled by Israeli airstrikes, in Gaza, October 9, 2023. /CFP
Israel’s army declared on Monday that its forces were in “control of communities” in its southern territory near Gaza, two days after Hamas militants launched a surprise attack there.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Monday it attacked 500 Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad targets overnight.
The Palestinian interior ministry said most of the targets were “towers, residential buildings, civil and service facilities, and many mosques.”
The death toll from Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel has reached over 800 while at least 493 people have died in Gaza since Israel began carrying out airstrikes in response to Hamas’ attack, the Palestinian health ministry in the enclave said.
Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant says he has given an order for Gaza’s “complete siege.” No electricity, food, fuel or water will be delivered to the enclave, he warned.
Hamas says it fired 120 rockets toward the southern Israeli cities of Ashdod and Ashkelon in response to Israeli airstrikes, the militant group said in a statement.
Israeli emergency responders inspect the site of a rocket attack in the southern Israeli city of Ashdod, October 9, 2023. /CFP
Israeli emergency responders inspect the site of a rocket attack in the southern Israeli city of Ashdod, October 9, 2023. /CFP
More than 123,000 people have been displaced in the Gaza Strip after Hamas launched an attack, the United Nations said on Monday.
Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua told The Associated Press over the phone that the group’s fighters continued to battle outside Gaza and had captured more Israelis as recently as Monday morning. He said the group aims to free all Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
Global responses
China expressed great concern about the recent escalation of the conflict between Palestine and Israel, as well as civilian casualties caused by the conflict. China opposes and condemns acts that harm civilians, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Monday.
China opposes actions that expand conflict and undermine regional stability, and hopes to see an early ceasefire and restoration of peace, she said.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Sunday that the Pentagon is sending warships and fighter jets to the Eastern Mediterranean region in a show of support for Israel.
He added that the U.S. government “will be rapidly providing the Israel Defense Forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions.”
Read more:
Analysis: What’s next after Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel?
(With input from agencies)
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