Israeli troops combed the south of the country for Hamas fighters, secured a breach in the border fence and bombarded the Gaza Strip from the air on Monday, declaring an all-out siege of the impoverished Hamas-ruled enclave after an unprecedented weekend offensive, reports Independent.
More than two days after Hamas launched a surprise offensive from the Gaza Strip, the Israeli army said the fighting had largely subsided for the time being.
Israel’s formidable military and intelligence apparatus has been taken completely by surprise, leading to mass warfare on its streets for the first time in decades.
Israel formally declared war on Sunday, signalling heavy fighting and a possible ground attack on Gaza – a move that has resulted in high casualties in the past.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to destroy the militant group’s deep-rooted “military and governing capabilities” in Gaza.
Israel hit more than 1,000 targets in Gaza, its tanks and drones guarded the opening of the border fence to prevent further infiltration, and Palestinian militants continued to fire rockets, triggering air raid sirens in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, reports Independent.
Footage posted online shows plumes of smoke near the terminal at Ben Gurion International Airport. There was no immediate information on casualties or damage from the latest bombing.
Palestinian militant groups claim that more than 130 people have been detained in Israel and dragged into Gaza.
Hamas’s armed wing said on its Telegram channel that four of them were killed in an Israeli airstrike. This has not been independently confirmed, reports Independent.
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