Israeli airstrikes conducted today, Saturday, on the Gaza Strip resulted in hundreds of casualties, both dead and injured. The spokesman for the Al-Qassam Brigades announced that they had launched a significant missile strike with 150 rockets towards Tel Aviv in response to the bombardment of a residential tower in central Gaza City. They also attacked several Israeli targets outside the Gaza Division, specifically in "Ofakim," "Netivot," and "Mishmar HaNegev," while fierce confrontations took place in "Be'eri" and "Sderot." He revealed that "dozens of captives, including officers and soldiers, are in our custody, and they are in safe locations," adding a warning: "Tel Aviv should await our devastating response."
As a result, the Israeli Channel 13 reported that "the session of the Israeli government was suspended due to a rocket barrage on Tel Aviv." The Gazan health ministry announced that "the total number of casualties received in the hospitals of the Gaza Strip due to the Israeli aggression reached 232 dead and 1,697 injured with various injuries, following continuous Israeli airstrikes on different areas of the Strip since this morning." The previous toll registered was 198 dead and 1,610 injured.
The Al-Qassam Brigades released a video showing the targeting of an Israeli vehicle with a Kornet missile. The "Lion's Den" groups called for protests in the streets and for blockading Israeli soldiers and settlers at 11 PM tonight. Hamas-affiliated media reported that Israeli aircraft bombed the home of Hamas leader Yehya Sinwar in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, with no injuries reported. The Gaza Interior Ministry commented on Israel's claims that the targeted homes and towers were used for military purposes, stating: "False claims with no basis."
**Death of Nahal Brigade Commander**
Meanwhile, the Israeli army spokesperson announced the "death of Nahal Brigade Commander Yonatan Steinberg today in a confrontation with an armed man near Kerem Shalom." The Israeli military stated it had bombed two more towers in Gaza used by Hamas, bringing the total number of targeted towers to four. Israeli security officials revealed that "about 1,000 elite Hamas fighters infiltrated Israel through seven breaches in the border fence." Regarding casualties and injuries, the Israeli health ministry reported 250 dead and 1,500 others injured, including 290 in critical condition.
Previously, an Israeli foreign ministry spokesman confirmed that "we will launch a campaign against Hamas inside Gaza" and that they informed the international community of the operations planned. In a statement, they asserted that "we are in a state of war, with all the implications of that, and we know that the numbers of the dead, captives, and missing are significant, but we are determined to defend our security."
The newspaper "Haaretz" reported that "Hamas fighters have taken control of a vast area along the Gaza border, including settlements and military sites," noting that "air raid sirens are sounding throughout Israel." The Israeli military continues airstrikes on various areas of the Gaza Strip in what they dubbed "Iron Swords," in response to Operation "Al-Aqsa Flood" launched by the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, against Israel on Saturday morning.
The airstrikes targeted government buildings in central and northern Gaza, as well as sites belonging to Palestinian resistance factions in an operation they called "Iron Swords." Aircraft bombed another target near residential towers in northern Gaza. In Khan Younis, southern Gaza, eyewitnesses reported that an Israeli strike targeted the surroundings of an ambulance near Nasser hospital, resulting in several injuries.
The Al-Qassam Brigades launched an unprecedented military operation against Israel "Al-Aqsa Flood," which included the firing of thousands of rockets and the infiltration and storming of settlements, while Israeli sources reported hundreds killed and injured. In response, Israel launched a military operation against the Gaza Strip called "Iron Swords," conducting a series of airstrikes on several areas within it.
**Mahmoud Abbas's Statement**
The Palestinian news agency "Wafa" reported that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas informed U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken that "the continued injustice and oppression faced by our people is what drives matters towards explosion." Abbas indicated in a phone call that "the reason for the ongoing escalation is the actions of settlers and Israeli forces, and the aggression against Islamic and Christian sanctities." Blinken urged the Palestinian Authority to "restore calm and stability in the West Bank," reaffirming the United States' strong condemnation of Hamas's attacks on Israel and calling for all regional leaders to denounce them.
Previously, Abbas confirmed to French President Emmanuel Macron in a phone call that "the escalation in the region is primarily due to the political deadlock and the failure to enable the Palestinian people to exercise their legitimate right to self-determination and achieve independence and sovereignty in their state with East Jerusalem as its capital."
He clarified that "the continuous Israeli aggression against our people, land, and sanctities, along with the ongoing terror of settlers in the context of international silence, has encouraged the occupation to commit more crimes, as is happening now in Gaza and the West Bank, including Jerusalem, which has led to hundreds of our civilian people killed and thousands injured and imprisoned."
Abbas emphasized that "ending the Israeli occupation of the territory of the State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital and recognizing our people's right to independence and sovereignty, along with full membership in the United Nations, is what provides security, stability, and peace in the region." He stressed that "the failure to apply international law and international legitimacy resolutions on Israel and the continued injustice and oppression faced by our people are driving matters towards an explosion that no one will be able to bear the consequences of," also emphasizing the "need to provide international protection for our defenseless people subjected to bloody Israeli aggression."
Abbas called on his French counterpart for "urgent intervention to stop the Israeli assault on our people by the occupying forces and extremist settler groups." For his part, the French president confirmed "France's commitment to supporting the two-state solution and working to stop the ongoing escalation and conducting communications with all parties," as reported by "Sky News Arabia."
**Doctors Without Borders Report**
The organization "Doctors Without Borders" reported that "a nurse and an ambulance driver were killed in Israeli strikes on two hospitals in Gaza today." It added on the platform "X" that "the strikes resulted in several injuries and damage to an oxygen station."
The commander of the Al-Qassam Brigades, Mohammed Deif, announced the start of Operation "Al-Aqsa Flood" against Israel and the launch of thousands of rockets towards it. Deif stated in a voice message that the first strike from the operation exceeded 5,000 rockets and projectiles targeting Israel. Hamas leader Osama Hamdan confirmed in an interview with "Waradana" that the operation is ongoing until all objectives are achieved.
Since this morning, Palestinian factions have launched intense rocket barrages from the Gaza Strip toward Israel, in addition to land, sea, and aerial infiltrations, with air raid sirens sounding in several areas, including Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Ashdod, and Ashkelon.
