Israel relentlessly pounded the Gaza Strip early Monday, October 9, 2023 as fighting raged with Hamas around the Gaza Strip and the death toll from the war against the Palestinian militants surged above 1,100.

The Israeli army said it hit more than 500 targets in the blockade on October 9, 2023, and impoverished Gaza Strip in overnight clashes, as the fight intensified in seven to eight locations inside Israel.

This is two days after Hamas launched a barrage of rockets and sent a wave of fighters who gunned down civilians and took at least 100 hostages in a massive attack that took Israel by surprise.

The Government of Israel on Sunday, 8th October, 2023 officially declared war on the Palestinian militant group that controls Gaza.

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Also, the Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, warned Israel to prepare for a “long and difficult” conflict.

The Israel Defence Forces on Monday, said more than 700 Israelis have been killed since Hamas launched its large-scale attack, Another 1,200 people have been wounded, many critically.

In retaliation, Israeli air strikes have hammered the impoverished and blockaded Gaza Strip, an enclave of 2.3 million people, with officials there reporting at least 413 Palestinian deaths.

Thailand said at least 12 of its nationals were also killed while Nepal reported 10 deaths. They were all labourers working in Israel.

Israel was stunned when Hamas launched its multi-pronged offensive on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, with at least 3,000 rockets raining down as fighters infiltrated towns and kibbutz communities and stormed an outdoor rave where many revellers were shot dead.

Panicked Israelis hiding in their homes told reporters that militants were going door to door and shooting civilians or dragging them away.

At least 100 citizens were captured by Hamas and abducted into Gaza, with images circulating on social media of bloodied hostages.

Yifat Zailer, 37, said she was horrified to see video footage from Gaza that showed her cousin and the woman’s children, aged nine months and three years.

“That’s the only confirmation we have,” she said.

Israel also came under attack from the north when Lebanon’s Hezbollah launched guided missiles and artillery shells Sunday “in solidarity” with Hamas, without causing any casualties.

Israel responded with artillery strikes across the UN-patrolled border.