Israel-Palestine Crisis: Nearly 232 Palestinians, 100 Israels killed in a wide-ranging Hamas incursion

At least 232 people have been killed and at least 1,697 wounded in the territory in Israel’s retaliation after a wide-ranging Hamas assault into Israel, the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza said on Saturday.

The toll came as Israel has carried out a number of airstrikes in Gaza and has clashed with gunmen at the border fence around the coastal territory.

According to reports, nearly 40 people have been killed in a wide-ranging Hamas assault on Israel. The latest toll came from the Magen David Adom rescue service as fighting was still underway on Saturday.

The ruling Hamas militant group in the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented attack on Israel at daybreak Saturday, firing thousands of rockets as dozens of fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border in several locations by air, land and sea, catching the country off guard on a major holiday.

Several hours after the invasion began, Hamas militants were still fighting gunbattle inside several Israeli communities in a surprising show of strength that shook the country.

Israel and Hamas have once again escalated their conflict as the Palestinian militant group initiated a significant aerial and ground operation from the blockaded Gaza Strip, marking one of its largest attacks in recent years.

Sirens were activated across Israel, reaching as far north as the disputed city of Jerusalem, starting at approximately 7 a.m. on Saturday.

The Hamas terror group published footage showing its members capturing a number of Israeli soldiers during an attack on a military base on the border with the Gaza Strip on Saturday.

The multi-pronged attack, coming a day after Israel marked the 50th anniversary of the surprise invasion on Yom Kippur, appeared to have caught the Israeli military and security forces completely by surprise.

Other clips circulated online have purported to show Israeli civilians taken hostage by the terror group. Arabic media claimed 52 Israelis had been captured. Some of those captured appeared to have been killed.

According to Hamas claims, this barrage consisted of 5,000 rockets launched from the blockaded enclave. Concurrently, there has been a ground infiltration by Hamas militants into Israeli towns and villages located on the periphery—an unprecedented development in the 16 years since Hamas assumed control of the strip.

With inputs agencies.