Deadly Hamas attack on Israel leaves 695 civilians, 36 children, and 373 security forces dead in horrific violence
Hamas attack on Israel leaves 1,139 dead, including 695 civilians and 373 security forces. Victims include 36 children, with reports of sexual violence and families massacred.
The final death toll from the Hamas attack on Israel is estimated to be 695 Israeli civilians, including 36 children, as well as 373 security forces and 71 foreigners, giving a total of 1,139. This horrific violence began when armed men from the Palestinian Islamist movement broke through the militarized border with Gaza, killing indiscriminately in the streets, houses, kibbutz communities, and even at a rave music festival. It took more than three days of heavy fighting for the Israeli army to regain control, leaving the country deeply traumatized by violence unseen since its formation in 1948.
There are reports of sexual violence reported alongside the killings, which police are still working to assess. Many of the bodies were found mutilated or burned beyond recognition, including entire families in their homes. It has taken weeks for forensic doctors to identify all the victims. The social security agency, Bituah Leumi, has made available the identities and ages of the civilian victims, including 36 children, with the youngest victim being 10-month-old Mila Cohen, who was shot and killed at Kibbutz Beeri.
One family, including three children aged between two and six, were killed in their home at Kibbutz Nir Oz, while two brothers aged five and eight were shot dead in their car with their parents. A five-year-old boy was also killed in the street by a rocket. A claim made by the Israeli government on Twitter about 40 babies being murdered at Kfar Aza kibbutz was contradicted by Bituah Leumi, which stated that 46 civilians were killed at Kfar Aza, with the youngest being 14 years old.
In the fighting to regain control of southern Israel, 58 police, 10 members of internal security service Shin Bet, and 305 soldiers were killed. The Bituah Leumi data does not distinguish between those killed by Hamas and civilians killed by Israeli forces in the fighting. Hamas second-in-command Saleh al-Aruri said around 1,200 fighters took part in the attack, and there are reports of 250 hostages who were dragged back to Gaza.