Israeli forces evacuate a woman and a child from a site hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, on October 7, 2023. (Photo by AP)

Tel Aviv, October 9 (RHC)-- The spokesman for the Israeli military Daniel Hagari says the regime’s army will evacuate all Jewish settlers living close to the Gaza Strip within 24 hours, following a large-scale operation by Gaza-based Palestinian resistance in the occupied territories.

“Our mission for the upcoming 24 hours is to evacuate all residents living around Gaza,” Hagari told reporters on Sunday.  He added that fighting was still ongoing to “rescue hostages” held by Palestinian resistance fighters.  “There are tens of thousands of combat soldiers in the area. We’ll reach each and every community till we kill” every Palestinian fighter, Hagari said.

The Hamas resistance movement said its unprecedented offensive by land, air and sea was in response to the desecration of the al-Aqsa Mosque compound as well as Israeli atrocities against Palestinians over the decades.  These include the 16-year blockade of Gaza, Israeli raids inside the occupied West Bank cities over the past year, increasing attacks by settlers on Palestinians as well as the expansion of illegal settlements.

The latest confrontation between the Palestinian resistance and the Israeli regime after the Al-Aqsa Storm operation is an “unprecedented achievement” for the Palestinian resistance, says an Islamic Jihad official
Mohammed Deif, a senior Hamas military commander, said the time has come “for the enemy to understand… they cannot keep going without consequences.”

Hamas leaders have stated that the assault that began in Gaza would escalate and spread to the occupied West Bank and al-Quds.

Israeli media outlets reported on Sunday that unofficial estimates suggest that approximately 750 Israeli soldiers and settlers have been missing since fighting broke out on Saturday morning.  They highlighted that despite a full day has passed since the unprecedented operation, Palestinian fighters are still present in Israeli settlements.

Palestinian medical authorities say more than 310 people have been killed and many more injured as a result of Israeli bombardment across the Gaza Strip.

Hospital officials in the Strip have recorded the death of 313 civilians and injury of 1,990 others. A large number of buildings, homes and public facilities have also been badly damaged due to heavy Israeli bombardments.