The Israeli defence minister has ordered a “complete siege” on Gaza, saying authorities would cut electricity and block the entry of food and fuel, two days after Hamas fighters unleashed a barrage of rockets and infiltrated southern Israeli towns during an unprecedented incursion from the Palestinian territory.
Israel’s military reported success on Monday in driving Hamas fighters out of communities that were overrun, while Israeli forces pounded the Gaza Strip from the air and prepared for a campaign Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said would destroy “the military and governing capabilities” of the militant group.
Civilians have paid a high price on both sides. At least 700 people have reportedly been killed in Israel and more than 400 have been killed in Gaza in the deadliest raid into Israeli territory since Egypt and Syria’s attacks in the Yom Kippur war 50 years ago. Palestinian militant groups claimed to be holding over 130 captives from the Israeli side.
While the Israeli military said fighting in border towns has largely died down for now, it continued to fight Hamas in “seven to eight” places in southern Israel.
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In addition, Palestinian militants continued firing barrages of rockets, setting off air raid sirens in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. There are also reports that Hamas on Monday fired dozens of rockets toward the southern Israeli cities of Ashdod and Ashkelon in response to Israeli airstrikes.
Israeli military spokesperson Richard Hecht said there were still multiple breaches in the border, which he said Hamas could be using to bring in more fighters and weapons.
On Monday, the Israeli Defence Forces said 70 additional militants infiltrated Be’eri kibbutz overnight.
