In the wake of the largest attack on Israel by Hamas in decades, Israeli authorities have declared a “total” blockade on the already besieged Gaza Strip, which includes a prohibition on food and water, according to Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. The blockade comes as a response to the intensifying conflict between Israel and Hamas, resulting in a surge of violence in the region.
Israeli forces have launched hundreds of strikes on Gaza since Saturday, when Hamas fighters initiated attacks within Israel, firing thousands of rockets into the country. The death toll in the Gaza Strip has tragically risen to 560, with many more injured, as reported by the Gaza health ministry.
The Hamas-controlled ministry confirmed that “570 people were killed and another 2,900 injured” since the conflict began.
Israel’s chief military spokesperson, Daniel Hagari, stated that Israel now maintains control of its communities after a mass incursion by Hamas fighters into Israeli territory on Saturday. Hagari noted that although there were some isolated incidents on Monday morning, “at this stage, there is no fighting in the communities.”
Israeli tanks and drones are positioned to prevent further infiltrations through openings in the fence, with 15 of the 24 border communities already evacuated and the remaining expected to be evacuated in the next 24 hours.
Hamas spokesperson Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua reported that their fighters continue to engage outside Gaza and have captured additional Israelis, with the group’s aim being to secure the release of all Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. In the past, Israel has agreed to exchange large numbers of prisoners for individual captives or even the remains of soldiers, underlining the complex dynamics at play in the region.
The situation remains highly volatile, with the total blockade on Gaza causing serious concerns for the well-being of its approximately 2.3 million residents, who already face challenging living conditions in one of the world’s most densely populated areas.
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