At least 100 Israelis killed in military escalation with Gaza

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) - At least 100 Israelis have been killed in ongoing military escalation with Palestinian groups in Gaza, authorities said on Saturday.

The figures were confirmed by Israeli Army Radio, which said the number of injured exceeded 1,000, and the country's health and foreign ministries.

"The fighting in southern Israel is still ongoing," the Israeli Foreign Ministry said, adding that security forces are "securing areas which are under attack by Hamas."

The Health Ministry in Gaza, meanwhile, said the Palestinian death toll from Israeli airstrikes reached 198.

The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Hamas movement, announced on Saturday it launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood with rockets targeting enemy sites, airports, and military installations.

Hamas chief Ismail Haniya said their “heroic” attack was in response to violence by Israeli forces and illegal settlers on Palestinian civilians, and storming of Al Aqsa Mosque.

The Israeli army, in turn, said it initiated Iron Swords in Gaza Strip, a "large-scale operation to defend Israeli civilians against the combined attack launched against Israel by Hamas this morning."

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar​​​​​​​