Online Desk: Since the attacks on Israel from Gaza began on Saturday, more than 500 Israelis have been killed, local media report – a total that has risen steadily in the past 24 hours, reports BBC. In the Gaza Strip, the Ministry of Health said 313 people had been killed by Israeli air strikes, with almost 2,000 wounded. More than 24 hours after Hamas launched its attacks on Israel and infiltrated southern communities, here’s the latest on the biggest escalation in the conflict in decades: Clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants are ongoing in several parts of southern Israel, according to local media reports. Haaretz quotes the Israeli army as saying it has taken back control of most areas of the south, but fighting is continuing in areas close to the Gaza border.
The Israeli Embassy in the UK has confirmed a British citizen, Jake Marlowe, is missing – he was working as security staff at an outdoor dance festival near the Gaza border when the attack happened. More than 400 Palestinian militants have been killed in southern Israel and the Gaza Strip, and dozens more have been captured, an IDF spokesman was quoted as saying by the Times of Israel. And at least 300 Israelis have been killed and dozens kidnapped, Israel’s Embassy in Turkey said, quoting Israel’s Ministry of Health.Israeli air strikes have killed at least 313 people in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian officials say. Meanwhile, Israeli officials have said the country is “still at war” [and] still completing efforts to take full control of Israeli territory and communities from Hamas.”

Hamas says it will publish number of captured Israelis. The armed wing of Hamas has said this morning that within hours they will release the number of Israeli soldiers and civilians it has captured. Hamas keep issuing statements saying that they will continue what they say is revenge for Israeli aggression. The Health Ministry in Gaza – which is run by Hamas – says 313 people have been killed in Israeli air strikes. An official told me more than half of them are civilians. The numbers also include more than 20 children six women, one of whom was pregnant.

Israel says it is targeting the houses of Hamas commanders, but civilians are also caught in these attacks. There have been appeals for Palestinians to come to hospitals and donate blood. Hospitals are struggling to deal with casualties, as the Gaza health system been struggling for a long time. The impact of this escalation will be far-reaching Lyse Doucet, BBC’s Chief international correspondent reports:  The timing of Hamas’ assault continues to raise questions. Its leaders invoke their usual mantras of a fight for Jerusalem, for its prisoners. But this resistance movement will have much wider ambitions in an operation which would have been years in the making. And there are now wheels within wheels. Many wider issues will certainly be affected by the consequences of this crisis.

This unprecedented escalation has come at a time of unprecedented diplomacy: Saudi-US negotiations which seemed to be heading towards the kingdom’s recognition of the Jewish state; greater engagement between Riyadh and the Palestinian Authority, Hamas’ arch rival. Hamas has thrown a grenade into the rooms where it’s happening. And there are many players in this mix – Iran, a staunch ally of Hamas, as well as Russia. Even the war in Ukraine could find itself in this orbit. Hamas itself is known to be divided. Sources say the military wing is driving a dangerous escalation, the impact of which will be far reaching and long lasting.