As the day dawned in Israel, the causality numbers from the surprise attack by Hamas yesterday has risen sharply to over 600 dead and and more than 2,000 wounded. Hamas continued rocket attacks through the night, including attacks against the greater Tel Aviv area in what it said was revenge for the destruction of a residential tower used by Hamas military command in Gaza. As for the ground battle, IDF spokesman Brig.-Gen. Daniel Hagari said, “The IDF forces worked all night to secure the area surrounding the Gaza Strip, kill terrorists and take control of all the battle sites. There are fighting and heroic battles to rescue hostages happening even now. Hundreds of terrorists have been killed, and dozens have been taken captive. There are forces fighting in Kfar Azza and ongoing searches in a large number of settlements – the IDF is in all the settlements.” IDF forces also have retaken the police headquarters in the city of Sderot which had been captured by Hamas terrorists.
