Hamas militants attack in Israel and Gaza has resulted in approximately 1,100 confirmed deaths, with the toll expected to rise as many remain critically wounded, according to the Israel Defense Forces.
Rescuers have discovered 260 bodies at a music festival targeted by Hamas militants.
In Gaza, airstrikes have forced the displacement of 123,000 Palestinians, with nearly 74,000 seeking refuge in schools, as reported by the United Nations.
Israeli forces continue to engage Hamas gunmen at multiple sites in southern Israel near the Gaza Strip, including the agrarian community of Be’eri, which was infiltrated by Hamas fighters overnight.
While many militants have been eliminated, some remain concealed in homes within the kibbutz.
The IDF has conducted over 1,000 airstrikes in Gaza as part of its extensive operation. Lt Col Richard Hecht emphasized the unprecedented scale of the operation, stating, “It’s taking more time than we expected to get things back to a defensive, security posture.”
In response to the crisis, the United States is moving its aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, closer to Israel.
President Joe Biden has pledged unwavering support for Tel Aviv, with the White House announcing additional military aid for Israel in the coming days to prevent its adversaries from exploiting the situation.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed concern about reports of American citizens being affected by the attack and stated, “We’ve got reports that several Americans are among the dead. We’re working very actively to verify those reports.”
Several other countries, including the UK, France, Ukraine, and Thailand, have also reported casualties.
Blinken condemned the attack as a “massive terrorist attack” that targets Israeli civilians in their towns and homes, as well as forcibly moving people across the Gaza border, calling on the world to be appalled by these actions.
