Editor's Pick: Death toll climbs as Israel retaliates to Hamas’ surprise attack

In what has potentially emerged as its bloodiest attack in decades, Israel battered Gaza on Saturday after Hamas fighters rampaged through Israeli towns – threatening the start of a major new war in West Asia. Israel’s air strikes hit housing blocks, tunnels, a mosque and the homes of Hamas officials in Gaza, killing more than 370 people, including 20 children, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed “mighty vengeance for this black day”. Additionally, in signs of the conflict’s potential reverberation beyond the border, in Egypt’s Alexandria, two Israeli tourists were shot dead along with their Egyptian guide on Tuesday. From the war-torn region, the last update from Israeli Prime Minister’s ‘X’ account informed that more than 700 Israelis have been killed and 2,150 injured. Israel also informed that 3,284 rockets have been fired from Gaza whilst 653 Hamas targets have been struck. Since the onset of the conflict, questions have emerged about the failure of the Israeli military to prevent the attack. However, at present, it has said that it has regained control of most infiltration points along the security barriers, killed hundreds of attackers and taken dozens more prisoner. “We’re going to be attacking Hamas severely and this is going to be a long, long haul,” an Israeli military spokesperson told reporters. North America-based publication the Wall Street Journal reported on October 8 that Iranian security officials helped plan Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel earlier this week. The journal reported, having learnt from members of Hamas and Hezbollah (another Iran-backed militant group), that Tehran gave the green light for the assault at a meeting in Beirut last Monday. The Hindu’s Editorials Tightrope walk: On RBI holding rates NewsClick non-case: On the strange case of a terrorism FIR without a terrorist act The Hindu’s Daily News Quiz What is xenotransplantation? The transplantation of organs after death The transplantation of cells from one human organ to another The transplantation of animal organs into other animals The transplantation of animal organs into humans To know the answer and to play the full quiz, click here. [logo] Editor's Pick 09 October 2023 [The Hindu logo] In the Editor's Pick newsletter, The Hindu explains why a story was important enough to be carried on the front page of today's edition of our newspaper. [Arrow] Open in browser [Mail icon] More newsletters Death toll climbs as Israel retaliates to Hamas’ surprise attack In what has potentially emerged as its bloodiest attack in decades, [Israel battered Gaza on Saturday]( after Hamas fighters rampaged through Israeli towns – threatening the start of a major new war in West Asia. Israel’s air strikes hit housing blocks, tunnels, a mosque and the homes of Hamas officials in Gaza, killing more than 370 people, including 20 children, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed “mighty vengeance for this black day”. Additionally, in signs of the conflict’s potential reverberation beyond the border, in Egypt’s Alexandria, two Israeli tourists were shot dead along with their Egyptian guide on Tuesday. From the war-torn region, the last update from Israeli Prime Minister’s ‘X’ account informed that more than 700 Israelis have been killed and 2,150 injured. Israel also informed that 3,284 rockets have been fired from Gaza whilst 653 Hamas targets have been struck.  Since the onset of the conflict, questions have emerged about the failure of the Israeli military to prevent the attack. However, at present, it has said that it has regained control of most infiltration points along the security barriers, killed hundreds of attackers and taken dozens more prisoner. “We’re going to be attacking Hamas severely and this is going to be a long, long haul,” an Israeli military spokesperson told reporters.  North America-based publication the Wall Street Journal reported on October 8 that Iranian security officials helped plan Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel earlier this week. The journal reported, having learnt from members of Hamas and Hezbollah (another Iran-backed militant group), that Tehran gave the green light for the assault at a meeting in Beirut last Monday. The Hindu’s Editorials [Arrow][Tightrope walk: On RBI holding rates]( [Arrow][NewsClick]( non-case: On the strange case of a terrorism FIR without a terrorist act]( The Hindu’s Daily News Quiz What is xenotransplantation? - The transplantation of organs after death - The transplantation of cells from one human organ to another - The transplantation of animal organs into other animals - The transplantation of animal organs into humans To know the answer and to play the full quiz, [click here.]( [Sign up for free]( Today’s Best Reads [[Army concludes 70 schemes under EP-4 worth ₹11,000 crore] Army concludes 70 schemes under EP-4 worth ₹11,000 crore]( [[Tanzanian President Hassan begins four-day visit to India] Tanzanian President Hassan begins four-day visit to India]( [[The U.S. will send a carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean in support of Israel] The U.S. will send a carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean in support of Israel]( [[How the Digital India Act will shape the future of the country’s cyber landscape] How the Digital India Act will shape the future of the country’s cyber landscape]( Copyright @ 2023, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. 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