Israel announces a total siege of the Gaza Strip and Hamas threatens to execute a hostage for any Israeli attack on civilians
The death toll has exceeded 1,500 since the terrorist group Hamas attacked Israel on Saturday (7). There are 900 casualties on the Israeli side; There are 687 Palestinian deaths.
This Monday (9) Israel announced the total siege of the Gaza Strip and Hamas threatened to execute a hostage for any Israeli attack on civilian targets.
Many of these targets are weapons depots and factories that Israel says Hamas has built near civilian areas. Israel claims that a destroyed mosque also served as an operational structure for Hamas.
1 of 3 After bombings in the Gaza Strip, a man runs with a child in his arms Photo: JN After bombings in the Gaza Strip, a man runs with a child in his arms Photo: JN
Hamas also continued to fire rockets at Israel. Even on the outskirts of Jerusalem, a holy city for both sides, people were injured in explosions.
In the information war, the group released images on Monday of attacks on Israeli armored vehicles on Saturday, in which grenades and bombs were fired from drones.
Since this Sunday, the Israeli government has been denouncing cases of violence against Israelis on social media. One of the stories is that of 30yearold couple Itay and Hadar Berdichevsky. The two hid their tenmonthold twin sons in an animal shelter and were murdered while fighting radicals. The babies were rescued after spending more than 12 hours alone.
Hamas extremists are holding dozens of hostages, including civilians and military personnel. They were captured in the incursion into Israeli territory that destroyed Israel’s reputation for invincibility.
2 of 3 pictures show hostagetaking by Hamas Photo: JN Pictures show hostagetaking by Hamas Photo: JN
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas appealed. In a statement, he called on the militants to respect the Islamic tradition of nonviolence and release the hostages.
The spokesman for Hamas’s military wing responded in another statement: He said he respects Islam but will execute a hostage for any attack on Palestinian civilians in the face of Israeli oppression.
Qatari mediators are working on negotiations with Hamas. Qatar maintains ties with Hamas and says it has two goals: humanitarian aid and finding a twostate solution in the region.
3 of 3 Funerals of those killed in the conflict between Israel and Hamas Photo: JN Funerals of those killed in the conflict between Israel and Hamas Photo: JN
Military spokesman Daniel Hagari called the terrorist attack the worst massacre of innocent civilians in Israel’s history.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vows revenge, warning that the military operation is just beginning and saying he will use enormous force to defeat Hamas. Without going into details, he said Israel’s response would transform the Middle East.
Israel’s military spokesman said troops had restored control over targeted communities in the country’s south, but there were still clashes with extremists who had invaded the region.
Israel has mobilized 300,000 reservists and the large tank movement near Gaza could indicate preparations for a land invasion. There are fears the fighting could escalate into a larger regional conflict.
The Lebanese group Hezbollah denied involvement but later fired rockets, claiming it was in retaliation for Israeli bombings.
In Europe, several cities are increasing security at synagogues and diplomatic facilities. Exactly 41 years ago, on October 9, 1982, the Great Synagogue in Rome, one of the largest in Europe, was bombed, killing a twoyearold child and injuring 37 people.
This Monday, the mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri, visited the site, spoke about this sad day and called for the release of the hostages captured by the Hamas group.