Gaza death toll rises above 230 as Israel continues airstrikes
More than 230 people have been killed and another 1,000 people have been injured in the Gaza Strip since Saturday, according to CNN. The Israeli military has continued to carry out airstrikes on the region, despite international calls for a ceasefire.
On Sunday night, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that they were continuing "to fight, to clear the last houses, settlements and bases." The IDF has asked residents of seven long-besieged areas of Gaza to leave their homes and move to urban centres or take refuge in shelters.
Eyewitnesses told the BBC that dozens of families began to leave their shelters and take refuge in UN-run schools.
IDF spokesman Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus told CNN that Saturday's attack on Israel involved "several hundred," perhaps as many as 1,000, Hamas fighters.
According to him, as of 4:15 a.m. local time on Sunday, the IDF continues "to fight, to clear the last houses, settlements and bases."
"I hope that at dawn we can say that we have finally restored sovereignty and order to Israel. But this has not yet been achieved. And that will be our number one priority,” Conricus said.
The Israeli army declared a state of war following Saturday's massive attacks on Israel in the Palestinian Gaza Strip.
The leader of the armed wing of the Hamas movement announced the launch of an operation - "Al-Aqsa Flood" - against Israel, launching hundreds of rockets from the Gaza Strip on Israeli territory.
The conflict has raised international concerns, with the United Nations Security Council calling for an immediate ceasefire. However, both Israel and Hamas have so far refused to back down.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
