Israeli forces battled holdout Hamas
fighters and pounded targets in the Gaza Strip on Sunday as Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu warned of a “long and difficult” war ahead after the
Palestinian militants launched a massive surprise attack.
Gun fights raged in towns and on highways as the Israeli army deployed tens
of thousands of forces to secure southern desert regions near the coastal
enclave, aiming to rescue Israeli hostages and then evacuate the entire
region within 24 hours.
“We’ll reach each and every community till we kill every terrorist in
Israel,” vowed military spokesman Daniel Hagari, a day after hundreds of
Hamas fighters crossed into Israel using vehicles, boats and even motorised
paragliders.
“Our mission for the upcoming 24 hours is to evacuate all residents” from
areas around the Gaza Strip, he told journalists amid the fighting that has
left hundreds dead on both sides.
Israel also came under attack from the north on Sunday when Lebanon’s
Hezbollah launched guided missiles and artillery shells “in solidarity” with
the unprecedented Hamas offensive, without causing any casualties.বিস্তারিত