Israel-Hamas conflict: Death toll reaches 1,500, including 11 U.S. citizens
As the bloody conflict between Israel and Hamas escalated on Monday, more than 900 Israeli civilians, including over 250 people attending a music festival, and members of the military have so far been killed by the Palestinian militant group, with another 2,150 wounded, as confirmed by Israeli officials Monday.
Also, more than 680 people have been killed on the Gaza Strip from Israel’s retaliatory airstrikes, with more than 3,700 others wounded, according to the enclave’s Health Ministry.
Israel formally declared war on Hamas Sunday following unprecedented attacks by Hamas that left hundreds dead, including at least 11 U.S. citizens.
“I have ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip,” Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Monday.
“There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed. We are fighting human animals and we are acting accordingly.”
More than 2 million Palestinians live within the area that’s roughly the size of Washington, D.C., and have little ability to move due to a blockade that’s been in place since 2007.
The Israeli military said Monday it has retaken control of all communities around Gaza since Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel early Saturday.
At least eleven U.S. citizens are among those killed.
On Monday afternoon, the White House released a statement from President Biden confirming that “at least 11 American citizens” have been killed during the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict — and that “it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held [hostage] by Hamas.”
“As we continue to account for the horrors of the appalling terrorist assault against Israel this weekend and the hundreds of innocent civilians who were murdered, we are seeing the immense scale and reach of this tragedy. Sadly, we now know that at least 11 American citizens were among those killed — many of whom made a second home in Israel.
“… We also know that American citizens still remain unaccounted for, and we are working with Israeli officials to obtain more information as to their whereabouts. My heart goes out to every family impacted by the horrible events of the past few days. … While we are still working to confirm, we believe it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held by Hamas. I have directed my team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis,” Biden said.
UN airs concerns for civilians as Israel steps up military response in Gaza to deadly Hamas attacks
The United Nations on Monday expressed growing concerns about humanitarian needs in Palestinian areas as Israel ratchets up a muscular military riposte and lockdown of Gaza, after the weekend attack by Hamas militants who killed and kidnapped hundreds of civilians in Israel.
READ ALSO: Israel bombards Palestine after Hamas gunmen killed 40 Israelis in biggest operation
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres led the clarion call Monday, putting the focus on civilians in both Israel and Gaza and renewing his condemnation of the fatalities and hostage-takings by Hamas. He also warned of the prospect of more innocent lives lost.
In a statement to reporters in New York, Guterres said that more than 137,000 people in Gaza — or about 6% of its population — were now sheltering in sites run by UNRWA, the aid agency for Palestinians. He cited reports of Israeli missile strikes on places like schools, health facilities and high-rise apartment buildings.
‘I am deeply distressed by today’s announcement that Israel will initiate a complete siege of the Gaza Strip, nothing allowed in — no electricity, food, or fuel,’ he said.
‘The humanitarian situation in Gaza was extremely dire before these hostilities. Now, it will only deteriorate exponentially,’ Guterres said.”
‘This enemy wanted a war and they will get a war,’ Netanyahu warns
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the nation Monday amid the conflict with Hamas, saying Israel has “only started” its attack on Hamas. “This war was forced on us by an abominable enemy,” Netanyahu said.
“Hamas is Da’esh [ISIS]. We will go after them exactly how the world went after Da’esh. This enemy wanted a war and they will get a war,” Netanyahu warned.
“We are on a campaign to protect our home, a war ensuring of our existence, a war that we are going to win.”
During the address Netanyahu laid out four specific actions he has taken since the start of the conflict Saturday:
1. Protect and clear out all of the settlements and prevent any openings for Hamas to enter. Netanyahu said there were still “a number of terrorists in Israel” and the military was working around the clock to “destroy” them.
2. At the time of his address, Netanyahu said there was an aggressive attack against Hamas “with a power and scale that they have never seen before.”
3. Reinforce and repair the walls around the borders in the north near Hezbollah, in Yehudah by Shomron, and within Israel. Netanyahu also expressed his gratitude to the security and rescue forces working with “tremendous strength and courage” who are putting themselves at risk to protect Israel.
4. Netanyahu said he petitioned the continued international support to expand Israel’s protection against Hamas. He thanked President Biden for the U.S.’ support with their words and actions as some of the largest and powerful airplanes were being sent to help Israel. “The enemies we share in this region understand the meaning and enormity of this gesture.”
Netanyahu closed out his address by telling Israelis that results will take time, but issued a grave warning for Hamas: “At the end of this all of our enemies will know that it was a massive mistake to attack Israel. What we are going to do to our enemies in the coming days will impact them for generations.”
Woman says she ran for miles to flee deadly music festival attack in Israel
Noam Manket was among a crowd of thousands of people enjoying a music festival in southern Israel Saturday when rockets began firing overhead. In an interview with ABC News, Manket said she and a friend escaped by running miles through an open field without food or water. She said those who tried to flee to their vehicles were met with gunfire by Hamas, the group that perpetrated the attack.
“You just keep running because you realize that if you don’t keep running, then you don’t go back home,” Manket said, adding that rockets were blasting overhead as she and her friend escaped.
Hamas military spokesman says it will kill a civilian hostage any time Israel targets Gaza civilians without warning
A military spokesman for Hamas says the group will kill a civilian hostage any time Israel targets Gaza civilians without warning.
Israel accused of killing Hezbollah member in border escalation
An Israeli strike on a Lebanese watchtower killed a Hezbollah member on Monday, officials from the group said, as bombardment intensified after Palestinian militants tried to infiltrate Israel from Lebanon.
Israel’s army said its soldiers had ‘killed a number of armed suspects’ who had crossed the frontier from Lebanon and that its helicopters were striking the area.
The escalation on Israel’s northern border with Lebanon comes two days after Hamas militants launched a massive attack on Israel’s southern flank from the blockaded Gaza Strip.
‘A member of Hezbollah was martyred in an Israeli strike on a watchtower in south Lebanon’ near Aita al-Shaab village, one of the officials told AFP, with a spokesperson for the powerful Iran-backed group confirming the death.”
Sen. Cory Booker ‘shaken, angered, and heartbroken’ following attack
Sen. Cory Booker detailed his experience in Jerusalem as the Hamas attack began on Saturday. The New Jersey Democrat said he was jogging when rockets were launched and ended up in a hotel bomb shelter.
“Frightened faces, there were children and elderly, families, many Americans,” Booker said in a video posted to social media.
“There was a sense of fear and worry and a knowledge to many of us that there were horrific things going on around the country at that time.”
- YahooNews