International Desk: Over 400 terrorists have been killed inside Gaza, and dozens more have been held captive, the spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Sunday.
IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said the searches for Hamas terrorists were underway at several besieged towns at a press conference on Sunday.
“As of this hour, there are forces fighting in (Kibbutz) Kfar Aza, there are searches in a large number of towns. There are IDF forces in all towns, there is no town that does not have an IDF force in it,” Israel Defense Forces’ top spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari was quoted as saying by The Times of Israel.
More than 24 hours after Hamas launched rocket attacks followed by an unprecedented ground assault, firefights between forces and terrorists were ongoing in Kfar Aza, close to the Gaza border. The IDF was attempting to neutralise all terrorists still present, The Times of Israel reported.
In a major escalation on Saturday, Hamas launched a “surprise attack” on Israel, firing a barrage of rockets into the southern and central parts of the country.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern warning to Hamas, claiming that it had begun a terrible war and that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) would use all of its strength to undermine their capacity.
“Hamas forces invaded Israeli territory this morning, on the morning of a holiday and Shabbat, and murdered innocent civilians, children and the elderly. Hamas started a cruel and evil war. We will win this war, but the price is too heavy to bear. This is a very difficult day for all of us,” the Israeli PM posted on ‘X’ on Sunday.