In the midst of the escalating conflict now in its fourth day, the Israeli military has issued a stark warning, stating on Tuesday that their retaliatory airstrikes against Gaza will be “bigger than before and more severe.”
The declaration comes as Israel successfully retakes towns adjacent to the Gaza border, countering a substantial cross-border raid by Palestinian militants initiated last Saturday.
Israel’s heightened offensive stance is further underscored by its request for additional weaponry from the U.S.
The severity of the situation is palpable, with Israel’s historic move of mobilizing an unprecedented 360,000 reservists in just three days.
This includes the recent approval for an additional 60,000 reservists on Tuesday, according to The New York Times.
This scale of mobilization, unparalleled since the country’s inception, emphasizes the critical nature of the current conflict.
The nation, with its population of 10 million, is grappling with the profound grief of losing over 900 citizens in the recent attacks.
The fighting has already killed at least 1,600 people, the White House confirming on Tuesday that 11 Americans are among the dead.
On Monday, Hamas vowed to kill Israelis taken hostage if attacks targeted civilians without warnings.
Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen warned the militant group against harming any of the hostages, stating, “This war crime will not be forgiven.”
