Following an extraordinary attack by Hamas militants, hundreds more Israelis have been injured and over 600 people are now believed to be dead.

 

According to Israeli media, the attack on Saturday left at least 600 people dead and 2,000 others injured.

 

Unknown numbers of civilians and soldiers have also been kidnapped by Hamas fighters and brought to Gaza.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have made available video of a missile strike they say occurred on a Hamas military intelligence chief’s compound. They also claim to have hit two of the terrorist group’s banks and production facilities for aerial weapons in Gaza.

‘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,’ he is quoted as saying in The Times of Israel.

 

Speaking at a briefing yesterday morning , he added: ‘Hamas’ brutal attack is a war crime.

‘Taking women and children captive violates international law and goes against Islam. Whoever took part will pay the price.

 

 

‘The war is diffcult and challenging days lie ahead. The IDF is strong and will use every bit of its strength and power.’

 

 

Israeli ambassador to the United Kingdom Tzipi Hotovely has blamed Iran for supporting Hamas ahead of Saturday’s attack.

 

She told Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips on Sky News: ‘Iran is backing up Hamas, Iran is destabilising the region with its proxies.

 

 

‘We are willing to take a long fighting time to defend our people, we must make sure no one has a motivation to do that again.’

 

At least 26 Israeli soldiers have been killed in an attack by the Hamas militant group on the country´s south, Israel’s military confirmed. 

 

 

And at least 313 Palestinians have been killed, and nearly 2,000 injured, in retaliatory Israeli military action since yesterday, the country’s health ministry has said.

 

Among them is British Nathanel Young, from London, was serving in the 13th Battalion of the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) when he was killed yesterday, according to the IDF.

 

 

In a statement posted on social media, his family said: ‘We’re heartbroken to share that our little brother Nathanel Young was tragically killed on the Gaza Border yesterday.’

 

He is the first confirmed British casualty of the worst violence in the region for decades, after Palestinian militants launched cross-border raids early on Saturday morning.