Israel battles Hamas militants for 2nd day after mass incursion

Rockets fired by Palestinian militants from Gaza City are intercepted by the Israeli Iron Dome system. Pics/AP

Israeli soldiers battled Hamas fighters in the streets of southern Israel on Sunday and launched retaliation strikes that leveled buildings in Gaza, while in northern Israel a brief exchange of strikes with Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group raised fears of a broader conflict.

There was still some fighting underway more than 24 hours after an unprecedented surprise attack from Gaza, in which Hamas fighters, backed by a volley of thousands of rockets, broke through Israel's security barrier and rampaged through nearby communities. The fighters took captives back into the coastal Gaza enclave, including women, children and the elderly, who they will likely try to trade for thousands of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

Hezbollah supporters march in Beirut in support of the attack

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country was at war and would exact a heavy price from its enemies. Hamas leaders said they were prepared for further escalation. Israeli media, citing rescue service officials, said at least 600 people were killed, including soldiers, while more than 1,900 were injured. An Israeli military official said hundreds of militants had been killed and dozens captured.

Civilians paid a staggering cost for the violence on both sides. Israeli TV news aired a stream of accounts from the relatives of captive or missing Israelis, who wailed and begged for assistance amid a fog of uncertainty surrounding the fate of their loved ones.

30 police officers killed by Hamas

A police station that was overrun by militants

Israel Police on Sunday confirmed that 30 of its officers, including from the Border Police, have been killed, Israeli news agency Tazpit Press Service (TPS) reported. Many in the civil police were caught off guard as Hamas terrorists opened fire randomly in the middle of the streets in Israeli towns, according to reports. Some of them were off duty.

More than 400 terrorists killed

A building that collapsed after an Israeli air strike in Gaza City

Over 400 terrorists have been killed inside Gaza, and dozens more have been held captive, the spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Sunday. Top IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said the searches for Hamas terrorists were underway at several besieged towns.

"As of this hour, there are forces fighting in [Kibbutz] Kfar Aza, there are searches in a large number of towns. There are IDF forces in all towns, there is no town that does not have an IDF force in it," Israel Defense Forces' top spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said. According to Hagari, the IDF's mission objectives are to evacuate all civilians from border communities in Gaza and put an end to fighting there.

Air raids on home of Hamas intel chief

Israeli fighter jets hit a military facility at the residence of the terrorist group Hamas' intelligence chief in Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces said. Sharing an update on the ongoing counter-offensive on social media platform X, the IDF posted, "Fighter jets recently attacked a military infrastructure at the home of the head of the intelligence department of the terrorist organization Hamas." "At this time, the IDF continues its attacks throughout the Gaza Strip," the IDF added in its post.

4 Nepalese students injured, 11 missing

Four Nepalese students studying in Israel have been injured and 11 are still missing after Hamas militants attacked a farm. Authorities fear there may be casualties among the missing students who were part of a group studying in the southern part of Israel.

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