Four days after the start of the “Al-Asqa Flood” terrorist attack launched by Hamas on Israeli territory, the toll continues to rise. There are more than 900 deaths in Israel, according to the army, and 700 in the Gaza Strip, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. The Israeli army said Tuesday morning that it had found “around 1,500 bodies” of Hamas attackers in Israel.
Hamas threatens to kill Israeli hostages
The terrorist organization threatened Monday evening to execute Israeli hostages in response to increasing Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army announced that it had struck more than 2,400 “targets” in the last 24 hours. In response, the representative of the armed wing of Hamas threatened to kill hostages. More than a hundred people have been kidnapped in Israel by Hamas, according to the government. “Every time our people are targeted without warning, it will result in the execution of one of the civilian hostages,” Hamas threatened in a statement.
The Gaza Strip under siege
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced Monday the imposition of a “complete siege” on the Gaza Strip. “No electricity, no water, no gas, everything is closed,” he added. “We fight animals and we act accordingly,” added Yoav Gallant. Some 2.3 million Palestinians live in the Gaza Strip, territory under Israeli blockade since 2007. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised Monday evening that “every place from which Hamas operates will become a ruin.” He also asked Israeli political parties to “join him” in a government of national unity.
Two French nationals killed and 14 unlocated
The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Monday the death of a second French national, killed in the Hamas attack on Israel. He also announced Monday evening that he had “no news” of 14 nationals, including a 12-year-old child, who were in Israel and whose “situation is considered very worrying.”
“The information available to us allows us to consider the kidnapping of some of them as very likely,” the ministry said in a press release, specifying that “this number is still likely to evolve.”
The Israeli army regained control of the situation
The Israeli army said Tuesday morning that it had found “around 1,500 bodies” of Hamas attackers in Israel.
On the fourth day of hostilities, “the army has more or less regained control of the fence on the border” with Gaza “but infiltrations can still occur”, added a military spokesperson. However, “we know that since (the beginning of) last night, no one has entered” Israel from Gaza.
Reactions around the world
The United States, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Italy express their support for Israel in a joint statement in which they “unequivocally” condemn Hamas and its “appalling acts of terrorism.” here, and insist “on the fact that no other actor hostile to Israel should seek to take advantage of these attacks”.
In Paris, a march brought together thousands of people in the 16th arrondissement, and rallies were also held in Bordeaux, Marseille, Tours, Lille and Strasbourg.
The United States, through John Kirby, spokesperson for the American National Security Council, clarified that it has “no intention of sending troops” to Israel, but that it will protect the interests Americans in the region. Joe Biden considered it “probable” that “American citizens are among those detained” by Hamas. The President of the United States announced that 11 of his fellow citizens had been killed in attacks carried out by the Palestinian Islamist group against Israel.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro accused Israel of “genocide” against the Palestinians, after the Israeli announcement of a “total siege” of the Gaza Strip.
Hezbollah bombed two Israeli barracks
Lebanese Hezbollah, supported by Iran, announced Monday that it had bombed two Israeli barracks in “response” to the death of three of its members by Israeli strikes, amid fears of escalation after the infiltration of Palestinian fighters into Israel from Lebanon.
Describing its attack as a “first response”, Hezbollah claimed in a statement to have bombed two Israeli barracks “using guided missiles and mortar shells which directly hit” their targets.