Smoke rises following Israeli strikes in Gaza, October 8, 2023.  REUTERS/Mohammed Salem
Israel

Gaza crisis: Israel strikes back

Israel's military pounded the Palestinian enclave of Gaza and killed hundreds of people a day after a surprise attack by Hamas militants left some 700 Israelis dead, the worst attack on Israeli soil.

(Reuters) - Israel's military pounded the Palestinian enclave of Gaza on Sunday and killed hundreds of people a day after a surprise attack by Hamas militants left some 700 Israelis dead, the worst attack on Israeli soil in decades.

ISRAEL TARGETS GAZA

*Israeli bombing on Sunday targeted the homes of Hamas officials, but also hit housing blocks, tunnels and a mosque, killing at least 400 people. The retaliation was complicated by an unknown number of Israeli hostages held in the area.

*Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that the Israeli campaign in Gaza would "change reality for generations."

*The Palestinian Foreign Ministry denounced Israel's attacks on Gaza as a "barbarous campaign of death and destruction."

HAMAS PLANNING

*Hamas carried out a careful campaign of deception to pull of its stunning attack, accounts from Hamas and Israeli sources show.

UNITED STATES AID

*President Joe Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday that the U.S. was sending additional assistance for Israel's military.

*U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said that the U.S. will send multiple military ships and aircraft closer to Israel.

(Compiled by Brad Brooks; Editing by Andrea Ricci)

Southern Europe battles wildfires as heatwave intensifies

Hurricane Erin weakens to Category 3 in Atlantic

Wildfires rage in Portugal and Spain amid summer heat wave

World Athletics to require gene test for female athletes

French voice of Ben Affleck fights to save dubbing in AI era