Over 600 Israelis and around 370 in Gaza have been killed in a sudden and extensive attack launched by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Saturday. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to reduce Hamas' hideouts in Gaza to rubble in response to the attack.

The Palestinian death count in Gaza climbed to a minimum of 232 as a result of intense air strikes on the coastal enclave.

Throughout the night, intense gun battles ensued between Israeli forces and hundreds of Hamas fighters across at least 22 locations in Israel. This included at least two areas where gunmen were holding hostages, according to information provided by the Israeli army.

The army further stated that "terrorists rampaged and forcibly entered homes, resulting in the loss of civilian lives." Over 1,000 individuals in Israel sustained injuries from gunshots or the more than 3,000 incoming rockets.

Source NDTV

BDST: 2123 HRS, OCT 8, 2023
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