'Enemy still on the ground', says Israeli army as fighting continues in south

Hamas terrorists are still holding up on Israeli territory, the Israeli army said late Sunday.

Fighting between Israeli security forces and Hamas terrorists continued in parts of southern Israel on Sunday evening.

According to the local news portal Haaretz.com, fighting was on at seven places.

Israel has moved tanks and troops on a big scale along the border with the Palestinian exclave. Reports suggest that a land offensive into Gaza was looking imminent. Israeli forces were evacuating communities near the border and those living near the fence in Gaza were also asked to leave within 24 hours.

The death toll from the Hamas’ surprise multi-pronged attack, which began on Saturday morning, crossed 600 with around 2000 injured and 100 others in Hamas captivity, the Israeli press office said.

Hamas on Saturday launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, the biggest since the 1973 Yom Kippur war. Hamas started by launching a heavy barrage of rockets into Israel, followed by an incursion into southern Israel via land, air and sea; Terrorists drove through the fence, while others paraglided into the Israeli countryside and some tried reaching the shore on speed boats.

The terrorists dashed into Israeli communities and attacked the civilians. While they killed hundreds, many were also taken back to Gaza as captives, including women and the elderly.

Israel responded to the attack by declaring a state of war. The Israeli Defence Forces since yesterday have been striking Hamas targets in Gaza, including the residences of the terrorist leadership, their headquarters, and weapons production facilities.