Israel asks Egypt to mediate release of Israelis captured by Hamas: Egyptian officials

Egyptian officials have said Israel urged Egypt to help mediate the release of Israeli forces and settlers captured by Palestinian resistance fighters after they launched a surprise assault across the occupied territories.

On Saturday, Hamas launched the large-scale operation, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, with a heavy barrage of rockets in response to Israel’s desecration of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and increased settler violence.

Following the operation, a spokesperson for the Israeli defense forces confirmed that Israeli settlers and soldiers are held captive in Gaza, however, the spokesperson declined to specify the number of hostages.

A senior Hamas official and Egyptian officials told The Wall Street Journal that the Palestinian resistance group had lost contact with some of those holding the captives, making it difficult to determine how many are being held.

The report added that Israel has asked Egyptian authorities to help negotiate the release of the captives in Gaza.

The Israeli army also confirmed that a “substantial” number of soldiers and settlers were captured by Hamas and taken into Gaza.

According to Israeli media outlets, unofficial estimates suggest that approximately 750 Israeli soldiers and settlers have been missing since fighting broke out.

Israeli media reported that although a full day has passed since the unprecedented operation, Palestinian fighters are still present in Israeli settlements.

Hamas: Number of Israelis taken prisoner many times 'more than dozens'

Hamas says the number of Israelis taken captive in its ongoing operation against the regime is many times more than "dozens."

They confirmed that confrontations are still ongoing in Kfar Azza and Be’eri settlements near the Gaza Strip, with control yet to be established over areas in Sderot, Zikim, Re’im and Sufa kibbutzes.

Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas movement, also announced on Sunday morning that confrontations between Palestinian resistance fighters and Israeli forces are ongoing on several fronts.

Al-Qassam Brigades spokesman Abu Obaida confirmed that the number of Israeli prisoners is “several times greater than what the Zionist entity thinks.”

He directed a message at Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stating that his threats against Gaza are a “losing bet after the regime’s soldiers fell like locusts, and hundreds of them fled.”

Israel targets two residential buildings in Gaza in fresh air strikes

Israel hit two residential buildings in the Gaza Strip in fresh air attacks against civilian targets on Sunday morning.

Abu Obaida emphasized that the Tel Aviv regime is facing a terrible crisis in the face of the “courage of our men.”

The Israeli Health Ministry said at least 300 Israelis were killed and over 1,500 injured in the Hamas attack.

Palestinian medical authorities said 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.

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