A reaction to the massive strikes of the previous day. Israeli soldiers are tasked with evacuating all residents of Israeli areas around the Gaza Strip within 24 hours, where "heroic fighting is underway to free hostages," the Israeli army spokesman said Sunday.
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"Our mission for the next 24 hours is to evacuate all residents around Gaza," Gen. Daniel Hagari told a news conference a day after Palestinian Hamas launched an offensive against Israel. "Tens of thousands of fighting soldiers" are deployed in the area, "and we will reach all the areas one by one until we have killed every terrorist in Israel," he said.
Targets shelled in Gaza
Under the cover of a barrage of rockets fired at Israel, fighters from Hamas, Israel's arch-enemy, in vehicles, boats and even motorized paragliders, played through the imposing fence around Gaza, attacking military positions and civilians in the street.
Israeli forces retaliated by shelling numerous targets in Gaza, as fighting continued on the ground between Israeli forces and infiltrated Palestinian fighters.
On Sunday, Israeli forces regained control of the police station in Sderot, which borders Gaza, after "neutralizing 10 terrorists who were there," according to police.