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.
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A photograph purportedly showing General Aloni in captivity has surfaced on social media platforms.
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Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared war, pledging that Hamas will "pay a price that it hasn’t known until now."Â
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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.Â
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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.Â
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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.
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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.Â
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In retaliation, Israel launched airstrikes targeting the Gaza Strip.Â