10/12/2023

Israel Says No Exceptions to Gaza Siege Unless Hostages Freed

In Gaza, where cemeteries are full, dead are buried in empty lots

Israel has vowed to annihilate the Hamas movement that rules the Gaza Strip, in retribution for the deadliest attack on civilians in Israeli history, when hundreds of Hamas gunmen crossed the barrier and rampaged through towns on Saturday.

Public broadcaster Kan said the Israeli death toll had risen to more than 1,300. Most were civilians gunned down in their homes, on the streets or at a dance party. Scores of Israeli and foreign hostages were taken back to Gaza; Israel says it has identified 97 of them.

So far, Israel has responded by putting Gaza, home to 2.3 million people, under total siege and launching by far the most powerful bombing campaign in the 75-year history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, destroying whole neighborhoods. Gaza authorities said more than 1,400 Palestinians have been killed and more than 6,000 have been wounded.

Please select this link to read the complete article from Reuters.