As the bloody conflict between Israel and Hamas escalated on Monday, more than 900 Israeli civilians, including over 250 people attending a music festival, and members of the military have so far been killed by the Palestinian militant group, with another 2,150 wounded, as confirmed by Israeli officials Monday.
Also, more than 680 people have been killed on the Gaza Strip from Israel’s retaliatory airstrikes, with more than 3,700 others wounded, according to the enclave’s Health Ministry, reports YahooNews.
Israel formally declared war on Hamas Sunday following unprecedented attacks by Hamas that left hundreds dead, including at least 11 U.S. citizens.
“I have ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip,” Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Monday.
“There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed. We are fighting human animals and we are acting accordingly.”
More than 2 million Palestinians live within the area that’s roughly the size of Washington, D.C., and have little ability to move due to a blockade that’s been in place since 2007.
The Israeli military said Monday it has retaken control of all communities around Gaza since Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel early Saturday.
At least eleven U.S. citizens are among those killed.
On Monday afternoon, the White House released a statement from President Biden confirming that “at least 11 American citizens” have been killed during the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict — and that “it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held [hostage] by Hamas.”
“As we continue to account for the horrors of the appalling terrorist assault against Israel this weekend and the hundreds of innocent civilians who were murdered, we are seeing the immense scale and reach of this tragedy. Sadly, we now know that at least 11 American citizens were among those killed — many of whom made a second home in Israel.
“We also know that American citizens still remain unaccounted for, and we are working with Israeli officials to obtain more information as to their whereabouts. My heart goes out to every family impacted by the horrible events of the past few days. … While we are still working to confirm, we believe it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held by Hamas. I have directed my team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis,” Biden said.