Israel pledged to escalate its response to the attack by the Palestinian group Hamas by launching ground operations, while US President Joe Biden reiterated his country's support for Israel and warned those who might try to exploit the situation.
Israel pointed out that dozens of its fighter jets struck more than 200 targets during last night in a district of Gaza City, from which Hamas launched a series of attacks.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health announced that at least 900 people have been killed and 4,600 injured in the blockaded enclave.
The Israeli army, for its part, reported 1,200 dead in Israel and more than 2,700 wounded.
«We suffered extremely heavy casualties,» army spokesman Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricks said in a video posted on the X platform.
The victims are mostly civilians, killed in their homes, on the streets or at an outdoor rave party. Dozens of Israelis and citizens of other countries are being held hostage in Gaza.
Hamas militants holding civilians and soldiers hostage threatened on Monday that they would execute one hostage for every house hit in Gaza without warning, but by Tuesday night there was no sign that they had carried out their threat.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Galland, addressing soldiers near the fence with the Gaza Strip, said: «Hamas wanted a change and will have a change. What was Gaza will no longer exist.».
«We started the attack from the air, later we will start ground operations. We have been controlling the area since the second day and have gone on the offensive. This will only intensify,» he stressed.
The Israeli army withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005, after 38 years of occupation, and since 2007, when Hamas took power there, it has imposed a strict blockade on the Palestinian enclave. On Monday it announced the siege of Gaza and indicated that no more food and fuel would be allowed into the enclave.
Moreover, the northern part of Israel was hit by rockets fired from southern Lebanon, with the Israeli army responding, according to three security sources.
Shells from Syria also fell on Israel, increasing fears that the conflict will spread.
«We don't know yet whether these shells were fired by the Syrian armed forces, by one of the many Iranian militias that exist (in Syria) and are welcomed by the Syrian regime or by Hezbollah or some other organisation,» Conricus commented.
«What we do know is that we have responded to the fire and that at the moment the situation is calm,» he added.
During the night, warning sirens sounded in many areas of Israel bordering Gaza.
From the White House, Biden called the Hamas attacks «absolute evil», while Washington is sending additional military aid to Israel. However, the US president asked Israel to uphold the law of war in its response.
«I will say again to every country, every organisation, anyone who thinks of exploiting the situation one word: no», Biden stressed, in a warning that seemed to be addressed to Iran and the militias it supports in the region.
In addition, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken will go to Israel to «convey a message of solidarity and support», according to the State Department.
«Nowhere is safe»
The Israeli army announced that its forces, supported by helicopters and drones, clashed late yesterday, Tuesday, with Palestinian militants in Israeli territory.
Israeli soldiers killed three Palestinian militants in an incident in Ashkelon, some 15 km from Gaza.
Palestinian media reported that Israeli airstrikes hit homes in Gaza City, Khan Younis and the Burayiz refugee camp.
Residents in these areas are calling for help via social media and complain that many buildings have collapsed, trapping up to 50 people, while rescuers are unable to offer them assistance.
The UN announced today that more than 260,000 people have fled their homes in the Gaza Strip and have taken refuge in schools or are on the streets.
In the morgue in Han Yunis, bodies lie on the floor with their names written on their bellies. Doctors have asked relatives to collect the bodies as soon as possible because there is no other place for the dead.
A public building used as a shelter by the displaced people was bombed. Survivors reported many dead. «No place in Gaza is safe, as you can see they are hitting everywhere,» said Ala Abu Tyre, 35, who had sought shelter there.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that since Sunday, more than 22,600 homes and 10 health facilities have been destroyed by Israeli bombing and 48 schools have been damaged.
The death toll in Gaza rose to 1,055
A total of 1,055 people have been killed and 5,184 injured in the Gaza Strip since Saturday, the health ministry in the enclave announced today.
At the same time, the Israeli army announced that at least 169 soldiers were killed in the fighting against Hamas.
«We have informed the families of the 169 Israeli soldiers killed in action,» army spokesman Daniel Hagari told reporters, adding that the families of 60 people who have been kidnapped and taken to Gaza have also been informed.
