<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Israel carried out air strikes across Gaza overnight into Wednesday, as retaliatory bombing — which Gaza's health ministry says has killed at least 900 people and wounded 4,600 — continued to flatten neighborhoods in the crowded coastal enclave. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip “has only started.”</span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Palestinians walk through the rubble of buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Palestinians walk through the rubble of buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City(AP)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Israel's embassy in Washington said on Tuesday the death toll from the weekend Hamas attacks had surpassed 1,000. Public broadcaster Kan reported the figure had reached 1,200. The victims were overwhelmingly civilians, gunned down in homes, on streets or at an outdoor dance party.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">New exchanges of fire over Israel’s northern borders with militants in Lebanon and Syria on Tuesday pointed to the risk of an expanded regional conflict.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hamas militants holding Israeli soldiers and civilians hostage had threatened to execute a captive for each home hit in Gaza, but as night fell on Tuesday there was no indication they had done so.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Numerous countries offered to play a role in mediating an end to the fighting, which already has killed at least 1,900 people, according to authorities on both sides. The death toll was expected to grow as Israel pummeled the Gaza Strip with airstrikes and sent Palestinians fleeing into UN shelters.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Israel-Hamas war continues to wreak havoc on the lives of Israeli residents, with many forced to flee their homes and seek refuge as rocket attacks intensify. Residents of Ashkelon, a city in southern Israel, are among those enduring the daily fear and uncertainty brought about by this protracted conflict, reports ANI.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Yaacov, an Israeli national from Ashkelon, vividly recounted his upsetting experience, stating, "We came here because a rocket fell on our building... we have no shelter, we escaped thanks to local administration and they suggested us to come here to this hotel and this is a good place. My 11-year-old son, 2-year-old daughter, my wife and I are staying here." HT</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>