Topline
Israel said Tuesday it has regained control of its border with the Gaza Strip and no Hamas militants crossed into the country overnight after its air force carried out multiple strikes across the Palestinian territory.
This aerial photo show heavily damaged buildings following Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City.
Key Facts
Israeli officials said they have discovered the bodies of nearly 1,500 Hamas fighters inside the country—highlighting the scope of the militant group’s invasion—and “restored full control” over the border, the Associated Press reported.
The statement comes after an overnight bombing campaign by the Israeli Air Force, whose targets included government buildings in Gaza City.
An Israeli military spokesperson said Gaza’s parliament and ministry buildings were legitimate “military targets” as rockets were being fired from the roofs of those buildings.
According to Haaretz, the Israeli military is carrying out strikes every four hours.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said the Israeli strikes have displaced more than 187,518 Palestinians in Gaza and the agency was dealing with difficult conditions, including overcrowded shelters and limited availability of potable water.
Crucial Quote
In his first televised address since Hamas’ weekend attack on Israel, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected allegations of his country’s involvement, Reuters reported. Khamenei, however, expressed support for the attack saying: “We kiss the hands of those who planned the attack on the Zionist regime.”
Big Number
1,604. That is the estimate of the number of people killed in the conflict so far, including around 900 Israelis and 704 Palestinians. This estimate likely does not include any of the 1,500 dead Hamas fighters Israel said it found in the country. President Joe Biden on Monday said that at least 11 Americans have been killed in the fighting so far while several others remain unaccounted for.
Key Background
On Saturday, hundreds of Hamas militant fighters entered Israel and began killing civilians and Israeli security forces while rockets were fired into the country from the Gaza Strip. The fierce attack is the deadliest faced by Israel since the 1973 Yom Kippur War and it appears to have caught its leadership by surprise. In addition to killing people in Israel, the militants have also taken “scores” of people hostage. On Monday, Hamas warned that it would execute the hostages after Israel carried out airstrikes on populated areas of Gaza without prior warning. Israel insists it has warned Gazan civilians to leave areas where Hamas fighters are present, while Palestinians say the airstrikes are indiscriminate and Israel’s blockade on the territory means they have nowhere else to go.
Further Reading
Hamas Threatens To Execute Israeli Civilian Hostages For Attacks On Gaza ‘Without Prior Warning’ (Forbes)
11 Americans Killed In Israel — And More ‘Likely’ Held Hostage, White House Says (Forbes)
