The Israeli Army Corps commander Brigadier General Nimrod Aloni of Israel Defence Force has been captured by Hamas hours after launching a military operation on Saturday. Alongside Aloni, several other Israeli military forces and bases were reportedly seized by Hamas fighters.
A photograph purportedly showing General Aloni in captivity has surfaced on social media platforms.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared war, pledging that Hamas will "pay a price that it hasn't known until now."
As per fresh reports, 160 Palestinians have been killed and hundreds wounded in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. Other shooting attacks by Israeli forces were reported from the West Bank.
Moreover, 22 Israelis were killed and over 100 Israelis wounded in rocket strikes across south and central areas of Israeli-occupied territories in Tel Aviv and Rehovot.
The Hamas attack comes after thousands of settlers in recent days carried out provocative tours of the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.
Palestinian fighters said they captured Israelis after crossing from the Gaza Strip. Other reports reveal that parachutes were used by armed fighters to enter into Israel-held territories.
In retaliation, Israel launched airstrikes targeting the Gaza Strip.