Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant imposed a “complete siege” on the Gaza Strip on Monday as the military bombarded the Palestinian territory with airstrikes.
“We are completely encircling Gaza… No electricity, no food, no water, no gas – it’s everything closed’, Gallant stated in a video message, alluding to the overcrowded enclave of 2.3 million residents.
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When Hamas militants raced across the border on Saturday, they shot civilians in nearby towns and communities before Israeli security forces started retaliating, resulting in at least 700 deaths in southern Israel.
An charity that assisted in recovering the dead estimates that 250 people were killed by Hamas militants during a music event frequented by young Israelis and tourists close to Kibbutz Reim, close to Gaza.
Gallant said in Hebrew, “We are battling beasts, and we are acting accordingly.
After the Israeli military conducted airstrikes on the Palestinian enclave in retaliation to the Hamas attack, at least 493 additional persons have died in the Gaza Strip.