Bloodshed And Political Uncertainty: Israel-Hamas War Enters Day 3 (Image: twitter/JackFought_1)
Fifty hours crosses since Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, leaving thousands killed and wounded on both the sides. West Asian trade and economy are in question as the weekend escalated political uncertainty across the Middle East. Israel navy continues shelling at multiple Hamas Naval posts and coast side of Gaza Strip.
Israel declared a state of war after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an aerial-ground operation from the Gaza strip in the early hours of Saturday morning. The attack was deadly surprise and the operation, named ‘Operation Al-Aqsa Storm’, consisted of a barrage of 3000 rockets and an unprecedented infiltration into the southern part of Israel.
Israel airstrikes killed nearly 300 Palestinians in 24 hours, Reuters reports. The Health Ministry in the Hamas controlled Gaza Strip reported the murder of 370 Palestinians, and another 2,200 wounded. Among the number, 300 were killed on Saturday, the largest number of Palestinians killed in Gaza by Israeli attacks in a single day since 2008, the report added.
Hamas claimed that they have taken captive of more than 130 Israeli people in Gaza and is willing to exchange them for the release of thousands of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. The captives include soldiers and civilians including women, children, and adults. The number of captives is ‘’significant’’, responded Israel administration.
As per the reports, on late Sunday, Israeli airstrikes had destroyed 159 housing units across Gaza, where 1210 others are severely damaged. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees said that a school sheltering more than 225 people took a direct fire hit, but are not sure of where did it came from.
Israeli military is still in process of evacuating at least five towns close to Gaza and DNA sample collection is in progress at functioning police stations, that could help to identify missing family members.
According to US, several of their citizens have died since the start of Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel on Saturday. US officials are keeping contact with their Israeli counterparts.
Zaka, an Israeli rescue service, said that they have removed about 260 bodies from a music festival site near the Gaza strip. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken responded that as many as 1000 Hamas fighters took part in the massive assault.
The Brazil administration has initiated the deployment of six aircrafts to evacuate Brazilian citizens from the war-torn Israel.
Economy hit hard; oil prices jumped to an unexpected level in early Asian trade on Monday. Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shia Islamist political party and militant group, joined the war on Sunday in solidarity with the Palestinian resistance. Following this, Israel hit Hezbollah targets with drone strikes near the borders of Israel, Lebanon, and Syria.
Muhammed Deif, Hamas leader said the group had released nearly 5000 rockets towards Israel on Saturday. Israel claims the number to be 2,200. Israeli military also confirmed high ranking officers were killed by the Palestinians.
Hamas called all the Palestinians to come forward and join the “Al Aqsa Storm” operation. Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu said the happenings are not operation. He said, “we are at war, this is not an operation”.
This is the first ever major attack against Israel from the Palestine so far. Since the Israeli occupation has gained power and started stretching them around the West Bank and Al Aqsa Mosque a little too much when compared to the previous year, it looks like Palestine, the largest “open prison in the world” is going to stick to their word as Mr Deif said “enough is enough”.
