UPDATE - At least 250 Israelis killed in military escalation with Hamas

UPDATES DEATH TOLL

By Ahmed Asmar

ANKARA (AA) - At least 250 Israelis were killed in ongoing military escalation with Palestinian groups in Gaza, Israeli medical authorities said on Saturday.

Citing a statement by the Health Ministry, the Times of Israel online newspaper said 1,104 Israelis were also injured, including dozens being in critical condition. The death toll is expected to rise, it added.

Israeli authorities, however, did not give any details on the number of Israelis held as captives.

The Health Ministry in Gaza, meanwhile, said the Palestinian death toll from Israeli airstrikes reached 232.

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

Hamas chief Ismail Haniya said their “heroic” multifront 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 Operation Swords of Iron in Gaza Strip, a "large-scale operation to defend Israeli civilians against the combined attack."