Israel claims it regained control of all Gaza border settlements

The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian resistance group Hamas annihilate Israeli tank as smoke rises near Israel-Gaza border in Gaza Strip, Gaza on October 07, 2023. [Abed Rahim Khatib – Anadolu Agency]

The Israeli army today claimed that it has regained control of all settlements surrounding the besieged Gaza Strip from Palestinian resistance fighters.

The Palestinian fighters have been “isolated” in the last few hours, the Times of Israel reported, citing Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari.

“It is possible [that] there are still ‘terrorists’ in the areas,” Hagari was quoted as saying by the daily. However, he added that 15 of the 24 Israeli settlements near Gaza have been evacuated.

In an earlier statement, the Israeli army estimated that between 1,000 to 800 armed Palestinian resistance fighters had entered Israel on Saturday morning through 80 gaps in the wall Israel built between around the enclave.

The Gaza-based resistance launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel in the early hours of Saturday morning, firing a barrage of rockets and infiltrating towns around the besieged enclave.

In retaliation, the Israeli military bombarded the Gaza Strip on Saturday and Sunday, razing to the ground many high-rise buildings.

At least 700 Israelis have been killed and over 2,300 others wounded in the attacks, according to the Israeli Health Ministry.

In retaliation, the Israeli army initiated Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, killing more than 493 Palestinians and wounding at least 2,751 others.

The Gaza war is lost: But will Netanyahu concede?

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