Death toll mounts on both sides as Israeli-Hamas clash intensifies

Over 1,000 Israelis are confirmed dead along with more than 700 Palestinians in the Gaza enclave in four days of fighting since Hamas launched a surprise attack Saturday, officials from the two sides said Tuesday.

The Israeli Embassy in Washington in a statement said the death toll on the Israeli side has climbed past 1,000, with more than 3,400 Israelis wounded in the fighting. Over 100 Israelis and nationals of other countries are believed to be held hostage inside Gaza by Hamas forces.

Separately, the Gaza health ministry on Tuesday said at least 770 Palestinians have died and an additional 4,000 are wounded from retaliatory airstrikes by Israel. In the separate Palestinian West Bank territory, which is not controlled by Hamas, 18 people died and 100 were injured in clashes with Israeli forces since Saturday as well.

There was little sign the violence was tapering off as the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to avenge the deaths and deal a mortal blow to the Palestinian terrorists.

Israel’s chief military spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, told reporters in a briefing Tuesday that the country’s air force was carrying our intensive airstrikes on Hamas targets in Gaza every four hours, saying, “We will reach them everywhere.”