Israel's military relentlessly pounded the Gaza Strip early this morning as fighting raged with Hamas around the Gaza Strip and the number of deaths from the war against the Palestinian militants surged above 1,300.
Israel's Defence Minister ordered a "complete siege" on Gaza on Monday. "We are putting a complete siege on Gaza... No electricity, no food, no water, no gas -- it's all closed," Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said in a video message.
The Israeli army said it hit more than 500 targets in the blockaded and impoverished Gaza Strip in overnight clashes, while fighting persisted in seven to eight locations inside Israel around the enclave.
It came 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 an massive attack that took Israel by surprise.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked the nation to prepare themselves for a "long and difficult" war a day after Hamas fired a barrage of thousands of rockets at Israel and sent a wave of fighters who gunned down civilians and took at least 100 hostages.
The US said several Americans were killed in the surprise land-sea-air attack on Israel and ordered the deployment of US warships and fighter jet squadrons to Israel. Thailand also claimed its 12 citizens were killed and 11 kidnapped. Besides, citizens of Brazil, Britain, France, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, Nepal, and Ukraine were either killed, kidnapped, or are missing.
Here are the Updates on the Israel-Hamas Conflict:
Stating "violence is not a pathway to a resolution of the conflict," United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) President Dennis Francis has called to "halt the hostilities" in Israel.
In an exclusive ANI interview, the UNGA President said that a diplomatic process can lead to a secure pathway.
"I have said before, and as the Secretary-General himself, has said, that violence is not a pathway to a resolution of the conflict...So I would want to call a halt to the hostilities and for there to be, the engagement of a diplomatic process that can lead to a secure pathway...," said Francis.
Israel has begun its retaliation after a surprise attack by Hamas on Saturday morning which led to the death of as many as 700 Israelis and injuring 2,300 others. In a stern warning to Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday said that though Israel did not start this war but will finish it.
The United States has no plan to become militarily involved in the conflict between Israel and Hamas after the Palestinian militant group's surprise attack, the White House said Monday.
"There's no intention to put US boots on the ground," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters, adding however that President Joe Biden "will always make sure that we are protecting and defending our national security interest."
The leaders of the United States, France, Germany, Italy and Britain pledged in a joint statement Monday to "support Israel in its efforts to defend itself" after the surprise attacks by militant group Hamas.
They added that they "recognize the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people" but said Hamas "offers nothing for the Palestinian people other than more terror and bloodshed," in the statement released by the White House.President Joe Biden said Monday that Americans are likely being held hostage by Hamas after its surprise attack on Israel, adding that US officials are working with Israel on "hostage recovery efforts."
At least 11 US citizens were among those killed in the "heart-wrenching" attacks, Biden said in a statement, adding that "the safety of American citizens -- whether at home or abroad -- is my top priority as president."
"Iran has long supported Hamas and other terrorist networks throughout the region with resources capabilities training," White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said on MSNBC.
The Delhi Police has beefed up security around the Israeli embassy and Chabad House in the wake of the Israel-Hamas conflict, an official said on Tuesday.
Three Hezbollah members killed in Israel strikes on Lebanon
US energy giant Chevron said Monday it has suspended operations at a natural gas production platform off the coast of Israel, at the request of Israeli authorities after a shock Hamas assault on the country over the weekend.
"Chevron Mediterranean Limited was instructed by Israel's Ministry of Energy to shut-in production at the Tamar Production Platform," said a spokesperson.
The company added that it continues to supply customers in Israel and the region from the Leviathan Production Platform.
"Currently no chance" of prisoner exchange with Israel, says Hamas official
Qatari mediators have held urgent calls with Hamas officials to try to negotiate freedom for Israeli women and children seized by the militant group and held in Gaza in exchange for the release of 36 Palestinian women and children from Israel's prisons, a source briefed on the talks told Reuters.
US confirms death of 9 citizens in attack on Israel by Hamas.
Israeli strikes on Gaza kill four 'prisoners', says Hamas.
Germany 'temporarily suspends' Palestinian development aid: ministry
The Austrian government announced Monday that it was suspending development aid to Palestinian areas, in reaction to the surprise attack launched by Hamas militants against Israel.
Israeli forces fighting Hamas militants in 'seven to eight' locations around Gaza: army
Around 10 Nepali students died in the ongoing situation in Israel: Nepal Embassy in Israel official confirmed ANI
The Gaza Strip has suffered its deadliest day in 15 years in the wake of the unprecedented attack by Hamas into Israel, with Israeli air strikes killing nearly 300 Palestinians in 24 hours, according to Palestinian officials.
- A surprise attack by Hamas on Israel, which combined gunmen breaching security barriers with a barrage of rockets fired from Gaza, was launched on Saturday during the Jewish high holiday of Simchat Torah.
- The attack came 50 years and a day after Egyptian and Syrian forces launched an assault during the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur in an effort to retrieve territory Israel had taken during a brief conflict in 1967.