Israel-Hamas death toll surpasses 1,500 as Netanyahu says Gaza offensive has ‘only started’
This aerial photo show heavily damaged buildings following Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City on October 10, 2023. Israel pounded Hamas targets in Gaza on October 10 and said the bodies of 1,500 Islamist militants were found in southern towns recaptured by the army in gruelling battles near the Palestinian enclave. (Photo by BELAL AL SABBAGH / AFP) (Photo by BELAL AL SABBAGH/AFP via Getty Images)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel has “only started” a fierce offensive in the Gaza Strip in response to Hamas’ unprecedented attack on his country.
Mr Netanyahu delivered the pronouncement in a nationally televised address as Israel pressed ahead with a third day of heavy airstrikes in Gaza.
Since then, more than 900 Israelis have died, Israel's Army Radio reported, while about 600 Palestinians have died according to the Palestinian health ministry. Thousands of others have been wounded in Israel's strikes on Gaza.
Israeli rescue service Zaka said more than 100 bodies have been recovered from a small farming community that was the scene of a hostage standoff during Hamas’ attack.
“We have only started striking Hamas,” Netanyahu said. “What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations.”
Echoing those remarks, Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, compared the incursion by Hamas militants into his country with the “abhorrent and unspeakable” actions of Isis. He also called on world leaders to designate Hamas as a terrorist body and to support Israel “in words and in deeds”.
Meanwhile, the military wing of the militant Hamas group says it will kill one Israeli civilian captive any time Israel targets civilians in their homes in Gaza “without prior warning”.
Abu Obeida, the spokesman of the Qassam Brigades, said in an audio released on Monday night that the past hours have witnessed intense strikes by Israel on civilian areas in which homes were destroyed over people’s heads.
“We have decided to put an end to this and as of now and we declare that any targeting of our people in their homes without prior warning will be regrettably faced with the execution of one the hostages of civilians we are holding,” he said.
In a video statement on Monday, Israel’s foreign minister warned Hamas against harming any of the hostages who were taken from Israel and are being held in Gaza.
Eli Cohen said Israel was committed to bringing the hostages home “in the spirit of mutual responsibility”.
“We demand Hamas not to harm any of the hostages,” Mr Cohen said.
“This war crime will not be forgiven,” he added.
Israel’s military ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip on Monday, halting deliveries of food, water, fuel and supplies to its 2.3 million people as it pounded the Hamas-ruled territory with waves of airstrikes in retaliation for the militants’ bloody weekend incursion.
More than two days after Hamas launched its surprise attack, the Israeli military said it had largely gained control in its southern towns where it had been battling Hamas gunmen.
Israel’s military and intelligence apparatus was caught completely off guard by Hamas, resulting in heavy battles in its streets for the first time in decades.
Israeli tanks and drones were deployed to guard breaches in the Gaza border fence to prevent new incursions.
Thousands of Israelis were evacuated from more than a dozen towns near Gaza, and the military summoned 300,000 reservists.
The moves, along with Israel’s formal declaration of war on Sunday, pointed to Israel increasingly shifting to the offensive against Hamas, threatening greater destruction in the densely populated, impoverished Gaza Strip.
Around 900 people, including 73 soldiers, have been killed in Israel, and more than 680 people have been killed in Gaza, according to authorities on each side.
Israel says hundreds of Hamas fighters have been killed. Thousands have been wounded on both sides.
Hamas and other militants in Gaza say they are holding more than 130 soldiers and civilians snatched from inside Israel.
US President Joe Biden plans to speak to several allies about the situation in Israel, according to the White House.
Earlier on Monday, Mr Biden convened a meeting with top national security aides, including secretary of state Antony Blinken, national security adviser Jake Sullivan, principal deputy national security adviser Jon Finer, homeland security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall and White House chief of staff Jeff Zients.
During that meeting, Mr Biden urged continued co-ordination with Israel and other regional partners, the White House said.
Mr Biden has spoken at least twice to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the White House says his top national security aides have been in regular contact with their counterparts in the region since the Hamas attack on Saturday.
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