The Israeli death toll from a surprise strike by the Palestinian militant Hamas group on Saturday has increased to 70, according to the Magen David Adom emergency medical service.
“As of now, 5:35 pm(1435 GMT), we can update the toll to 70 killed and hundreds wounded seriously, moderately and lightly,” it said in a statement.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh declared Saturday that the Palestinian terrorist group was on the “verge of a great victory” after the surprise attack on Israel from Gaza.
“We are on the verge of a great victory and a clear conquest on the Gaza front,” Haniyeh said in a speech broadcast on Hamas-run Al-Aqsa television.
“Enough is enough, the cycle of intifadas (uprisings) and revolutions in the battle to liberate our (Palestinian) land and our prisoners languishing in occupation (Israeli) prisons must be completed.”