IDF Claims To Surround Gaza When Death Toll Reaches 9,061, Hamas: Your Army Will Go Home In Body Bags

The impact of the Israeli attack on Gaza October 2023. (Wikimedia Commons/Al Araby)

JAKARTA - Palestinian militant group Hamas warned of the risks that the Israeli military would accept when state officials claimed to have surrounded the Gaza Strip, while the death toll in the enclave broke through 9,000 people.

The Gaza Strip became the focus of Israeli attacks to destroy Hamas' command structure, ordering civilians to flee to the south.

"We are at the height of the battle. We have achieved impressive success and have passed the outskirts of Gaza. We are progressing," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement without further details.

Meanwhile, Israeli spokesman Defense Forces (IDF) young Admiral Daniel huki told reporters, "His country's forces have completed the siege of Gaza City, which is the focal point of the Hamas group."

However, Israel's chief military engineer Brigadier General Iddo Mizrahi acknowledged their movement was not easy, saying troops on the ground were facing mines and traps.

"Hamas has studied and prepared well," he said.

Separately, armed wing spokesman Hamas Abu Ubaida said in a televised address on Thursday that Israel's death toll in Gaza was much higher than the military announced.

"Your army will return in black bags (body bags)," he warned.

Earlier, Israel said it had lost 18 soldiers and killed dozens of militants since ground operations expanded on Friday last week.

Amid the increasing fighting in Gaza, Palestinian civilians are increasingly suffering from food shortages, fuel, drinking water and medicine, with the number of victims continuing to grow.

"Water is used as a weapons of war," said Total Touma, a spokesman for the UN agency for the UNRWA Palestinian refugees.

Since the conflict broke out following Hamas' attack on Israel's southern region on October 7, nearly 10,600 people have died, of which 1,538 were victims on the Israeli side, citing Anadolu.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health in Gaza said the number of Palestinian civilians killed in the total blockaded area of Israel had reached 9,061.

"The victims included 3,760 children and 2,326 women, while 32,000 others were injured," ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said at a news conference in Gaza City.

He further said that around 2,060 people were still trapped under the ruins of buildings in Gaza.

"Israel's attack left 135 medics dead and 25 ambulances destroyed," said al-Qudra.

Not only that, according to the spokesman, Israeli forces have targeted more than 100 health care facilities in Gaza since October 7.

"About 16 hospitals and 32 primary care centers were forced to malfunction due to Israeli attacks and fuel shortages," he added.