The Israeli military said Tuesday it had largely regained control of areas in the south that had been attacked by militants from Hamas, AP reports. The announcement came on the fourth day of war with Hamas and amid an Israeli siege and heavy bombing of The Gaza Strip.
The military said it had found “hundreds and hundreds” of bodies of Hamas militants who died fighting inside Israel – an indication of the size of their attack. It said there were no longer infiltrators coming over the Gaza border – something in question still Monday. There could still be some holdouts on Israeli territory.
Hamas threatens to execute hostages
The death toll on both sides continued to climb. Israeli media reported more than 900 Israelis killed by Hamas attackers and rocket fire. Palestinian health officials say at least 680 people in Gaza have been killed by Israeli strikes. Thousands more on both sides have been wounded.
At least 11 Americans have been killed.
Meanwhile, in his first televised comments since the war started, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei denied that Iran was involved in the attack but said, “We kiss the hands of those who planned the attack on the Zionist regime.”
In Washington, the White House said President Biden will deliver remarks on the Hamas attacks in Israel on Tuesday at 1 p.m. ET.
On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country’s offensive against the militant group Hamas was only just beginning, as he vowed to lay total siege to the Gaza Strip in the wake of an unprecedented assault on Israel’s territory and citizens.
Hamas claims to have more than 100 hostages. The militant group is threatening to execute a civilian hostage every time Israel targets civilians in Gaza without warning.
