International Desk: Israel Police on Sunday confirmed that 30 of its officers, including from the Border Police, have been killed, Israeli news agency Tazpit Press Service (TPS) reported.
The Israel Police released the names of the slain personnel on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Defence Force on Sunday named 26 soldiers killed in the fighting since Saturday morning, The Times of Israel reported.
IDF spokesman Rear Adm Daniel Hagari told media on Sunday morning that the military was seeking to “stabilize the situation in the Gaza envelope” and that infiltrators at most incident locations had been “neutralized.”
Hagari said the forces were still carrying out searches for terrorists in Sderot, Zikim, Re’im, and Sufa.
The IDF on Sunday said the wrested control of 29 locations from Hamas infiltrators, he said.
“There are hundreds of dead terrorists. There are dozens of terrorists captured,” Hagari said.
Many in the civil police were caught off guard as Hamas terrorists opened fire randomly in the middle of the streets in Israeli towns, according to reports.
Meanwhile, Israeli security forces made headway early Sunday toward regaining control of the towns and areas held by Hamas terrorists who infiltrated 24 hours earlier, The Times of Israel reported.
Till now, more than 300 people have been killed and over 1,800 wounded and dozens kidnapped and taken to the Gaza Strip, added reports.
“We are embarking on a long and difficult war that was forced on us by a murderous Hamas attack,” Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said at the meeting, according to reports.
“We will restore security to the citizens of Israel and we will win,” he added.
“The first stage is ending at this time with the destruction of the vast majority of the enemy forces that infiltrated our territory. At the same time, we have begun the offensive phase, which will continue with neither limitations nor respite until the objectives are achieved,” he added.