Renewed conflict between Isreal, Hamas militia claim over 600 lives in 24 hours

ISREAL/PALESTINE – Over 600 persons have reportedly been killed on both sides of the war since the renewed conflict between Isreal and the Hamas militia broke out on Saturday.

At least 313 Palestinians have been killed and another 1,990 wounded in the last 24 hours, the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza has said.

CNN news reported that Israel had been carrying out airstrikes targeting Hamas since the group’s deadly surprise attack against Israel began early Saturday morning.

The Israel Defense Forces said the number of Israelis killed since Hamas launched its attack Saturday had risen to 350.

At a briefing on Sunday, The Israel Defense Forces spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said the priorities now were to end the fighting in Israeli communities and control breaches in the fence dividing Gaza and Israel.

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Hamas fighters were still present in southern Israeli cities, according to a statement from the group.

The statement said Hamas was supporting them with rocket fire on Israeli cities.

It said the fighters were present in Ofakim, Sderot, Yad Mordechai, Kfar Aza, Be’eri, Yated, and Kissufim.

The war has attracted interest from the international community with China on Sunday calling on Palestine and Israel to immediately end the hostilities, exercise restraint.

China encouraged the two countries to remain calm to protect civilians to avoid further deterioration of the situation.

China is deeply concerned over the current escalation of tensions and violence between Palestine and Israel, and calls on relevant parties to remain calm, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in response to questions on the fierce conflicts between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip resulting in massive casualties on both sides.

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