At least 232 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli air attacks launched after a Hamas offensive against Israel that killed at least 200, reports Al-Jazeera.

Medical sources in Gaza have told Al Jazeera the number of wounded people has exceeded 1,600 as Israel intensified its aerial bombardment in Gaza as a retaliation.

"We're witnessing more residential buildings being targeted. According to local sources and witnesses, there are many casualties due to the bombardments," Al Jazeera's Youmna ElSayed reports, noting that residential buildings were also being struck.

"Considering Gaza has been under an Israeli blockade for the past 17 years, the people have nowhere to go. They have no opportunities to leave in times of escalation like this. They have no shelters to move to … this is how complicated the situation in Gaza looks like," ElSayed said.

The Palestinian fighters group Hamas launched the biggest attack on Israel in years on Saturday in a surprise assault that combined gunmen crossing into several Israeli towns with a heavy barrage of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip, reports Reuters.

Hamas deputy chief Saleh al-Arouri has told Al Jazeera that the group is ready for "the worst case scenario".

"All scenarios are now possible and we are ready for an [Israeli] land invasion," he said.

According to reports, medical sources in Gaza have told that at least 198 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's attacks. The number of wounded people has exceeded 1,600.

Additionally, more than 750 Israelis have been injured, reports Al Jazeera.

As warning sirens wailed across southern and central Israel, including in Jerusalem, Israel's military said it was on a war footing and the defence minister said the Iran-backed Hamas had made a "grave mistake" by declaring war on Israel.

Source: Al Jazeera 

BDST: 1012 HRS, OCT 08, 2023
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