According to The Times of Israel, at least 700 people have died and more than 2000 have been injured as Hamas terror groups continued their attack on Israel for a third day in a row. When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Hamas on Sunday that it had started a terrible war and that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would use all of its might to undermine their ability, Israel formally declared war on Hamas.
Over 100 people have reportedly been taken hostage in Gaza, according to the Government Press Office, a unit that reports to the Israeli prime minister’s office. Additionally, the Times of Israel reported that on Sunday night, Hamas and Islamic Jihad claimed to be holding 130 Israeli hostages, including senior army officers.
Following the announcement by the Israeli PM, noting that the country is at war, Israeli jets carried out “intense” airstrikes on targets in Gaza on Sunday afternoon.
Meanwhile, according to the reports by Jerusalem Post Senior Military and Intelligence Analyst, Yonah Jeremy Bob, the IDF has undertaken 1149 airstrikes on Gaza as of Monday morning, marking a jump of around 800 since Sunday midday, reported The Jerusalem Post.
His report also noted that there are still six active skirmishes between Hamas and Israeli villagers along the Gaza corridor. Furthermore, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer told CNN in an interview that there had been “well north of 600 people killed,” and that there would likely be “a few hundred more.” The Israel Air Force attacked a number of residences for the leaders of the terrorist group Hamas as well as several operational headquarters on Monday in retaliation for the Hamas attack in Israel.