No fewer than 700 Israelis and 500 Palestinians have been killed in the ongoing fight between the Palestinian Hamas militant group and Israel.
Following Hamas attacks against Israel from Gaza on Saturday and Israeli airstrikes in retaliation, the death toll has been rising. According to Israel’s health ministry, more than 700 Israelis have died, 100 have been abducted, and more than 2,500 have been injured.
Israeli attacks have also claimed the lives of 370 Palestinians, according to the Gazan health ministry, which reportedly reported 2,200 injuries. Yesterday, the Israeli government formally declared war on Hamas, launching a huge offensive against the Islamist militant organisation.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu already said Saturday the country was at war — but that declaration was rhetorical. Sunday’s move by the Israeli cabinet is an official decision, tantamount to a declaration of war by Congress in the United States.
Israeli troops have killed hundreds of Hamas fighters, wounded thousands and captured scores of others, an Israel Defense Forces spokesperson said yesterday. The initial Israeli counterattack began at 3:45 a.m. local time Sunday (8:45 p.m. ET Saturday), with ‘tens of tons of bombs’ dropped, said IDF spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari.
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Israeli forces destroyed around 800 targets, including launching pads used by Hamas, with 50 planes attacking 120 targets in Beit Hanoun alone and destroying all Hamas gathering points there, Hagari said.
US backs Isreal with nuclear-powered aircraft carrier
US President Joe Biden has ‘directed additional support’ for Israel, according to a White House statement. A US Navy carrier strike group is headed to the eastern Mediterranean Sea, according to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, as Israel prepares for a large-scale campaign against Hamas in Gaza.
The USS Gerald R. Ford, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, was sailing with the Italian Navy earlier this week, according to the ship’s social media, putting it close to Israel.
The carrier will be accompanied by guided missile destroyers and guided missile cruisers, which are two other classes of Navy warships.
The US is also taking steps to bolster its presence of fighter jets in the region, including F-35, F-15, F-16 and A-10 squadrons. It sent several of these aircraft to the Middle East in recent months in response to aggression from Iranian forces across the region, including in Syria and in the Gulf of Oman.