Israeli security forces and rescuers gather in front of a building in Tel Aviv, after it was hit by a rocket fired by Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023. AFP
Israeli army spokesman Richard Hecht told journalists that Israeli forces were still engaging in 22 locations with Palestinian militants that came into Israel in the early hours of the morning "from the sea, from the land and from the air."
Hecht added that the Hamas attack included a "robust ground invasion" and when asked by journalists how many militants had entered Israel the army spokesman said "hundreds" had "invaded" the country, stressing that "hundreds" were still fighting troops inside Israel.
He said there was a "severe hostage situation in Beeri and also in Ofakim", two Israeli communities in the Negev Desert, the latter 20 kilometres (more than 12 miles) from the Gaza border.
Hecht said more than 3,000 rockets had been fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel.
Gun battles raged into the night as the death toll from the Hamas group’s massive attack on Israel reached more than 200, according to Israel's rescue service, while Gaza authorities reported a death toll of 232 in the conflict's bloodiest escalation in years.
*This story was edited by Ahram Online
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