Tel Aviv: Israel imposed total siege on Gaza Strip and cut off water supply as it kept bombing targets in crowded Palestinian enclave, after Hamas stunned Israel with surprise offensive.

Gaza’s Health Ministry said there were dozens of Palestinians killed and wounded in Israeli air strikes on Jabalia refugee camp. Israel has launched hundreds of strikes on Gaza since Saturday when Hamas fighters launched attacks in Israel and fired thousands of rockets at country.

Israel’s military said it had called up an unprecedented 300,000 reservists and was imposing total blockade of Gaza Strip, signs it could be planning ground assault there to defeat Hamas after it launched humiliating attack. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened, “What Hamas will experience will be difficult and terrible. We are going to change Middle East.”

“This is only beginning,” he said. “We will defeat them with force, enormous force.”Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel would impose “Complete siege” on long blockaded enclave and stressed what this meant for its 2.3 million people: “No electricity, no food, no water, no gas-it’s all closed.” In signal of Israel’s rapid shift on to war footing, Cabinet member from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party said it could set up national unity government joined by opposition leaders within hours.

Hamas’ armed wing said it fired rockets towards Jerusalem in response to Israel’s bombing of civilian homes in Gaza. Four people in an area on outskirts of city were wounded, ambulance service said.

Palestinian fighters are still inside Israel two days after they killed hundreds of Israelis and seized dozens of hostages in raid that shattered Israel’s reputation of invincibility. Israel’s Kan TV said death toll from Hamas attack had climbed to 800. Netanyahu told mayors of southern towns hit by Saturday’s surprise assault that Israel’s response would “change Middle East”.

Israel military says control of communities reestablished but fighting continues in pockets

Israel calls up 300,000 reservists, to go ‘on offensive’

Palestinian death toll in retaliatory strikes approaches 500

Over 123,000 displaced in Gaza strip

Hamas official says ‘currently no chance’ of prisoner swap with Israel

Death toll in Gaza Strip rose to 560 on Monday, Health Ministry in Palestinian enclave said. Hamas-controlled ministry said, “570 people were killed and another 2,900 injured” in fighting that began on Saturday after Hamas fighters fired thousands of rockets in Israel in surprise dawn offence.

Published in The Daily National Courier, October, 10 2023

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