Bodies, Scorched Earth: The Human Cost Of The Israel-Gaza War

Bodies everywhere, a scorched patch of ground, charred vehicles and destroyed houses - with the war against Gaza continuing to escalate on its fourth day, a video posted on social media has given an insight into the human toll the conflict has taken in Israel. 

A video posted by the Israel Defense Forces on Tuesday shows a woman narrating what she sees as she walks around a village in southern Israel probably hit by rockets during the attack by Hamas. The village also saw people being taken as hostages.

WATCH: Exclusive IDF footage from the scene of the massacre in southern Israel.

Hamas' cruelty knows no bounds. pic.twitter.com/uPj2RSRihp

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 10, 2023

The video, which was posted on X (formerly Twitter) shows the woman entering the area, describing that she is seeing bodies everywhere and the ground burnt. The camera then pans to a bus stop, where clothes can be seen strewn, and the woman says that they belonged to people taken by Hamas operatives. 

A destroyed house is seen across the street, Several mangled cars can also be seen and so can a cut portion of a fence, from where the operatives allegedly entered the village. The woman says the operatives burnt down everything in sight and goes on to show a charred truck used to get supplies into the village, as well as a burnt-down house.

The video ends with sirens going off and the woman and other people taking cover. 

Death Count Rising

Over 3,000 people have died in the war, which began when Hamas fired 5,000 rockets into Israel in 20 minutes, news agency AFP reported. Israel has said it has recaptured the border areas of Gaza, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Israel's fightback was only the beginning of a sustained war to destroy Hamas and "change the Middle East".

Fear and chaos also reigned among the 2.3 million Palestinians living in the crowded and impoverished Gaza strip, which has been hit by thousands of Israeli bombs, the AFP report said. Fireballs repeatedly lit up Gaza City before dawn on Tuesday, as explosions shook the ground and sirens wailed.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said Mr Netanyahu called him and gave him an update on the deadly conflict. The Prime Minister said he assured his Israeli counterpart that India stands with Israel in "this difficult hour", and underscored that India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms. 

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"Awkward": Kohli On Playing WC In Front Of 'Virat Stand' In Delhi

India's batting ace Virat Kohli said it would be awkward to play in front of a pavillion named after him at Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium, where he honed his skills playing age-group cricket and Ranji Trophy. After opening their World Cup campaign with a comfortable win over the mighty Australians, India will take on Afghanistan in their second fixture at the quadrennial showpiece at Delhi on Wednesday. A pavillion at the stadium, known earlier as the Feroz Shah Kotla, is named after the former India skipper.

In a video posted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Virat was discussing his partnership with KL Rahul against Australia, which eventually turned the match in India's favour.

The discussions in the video then veered to Virat fronting up to bowlers near a pavilion named after him.

"For me, that is the stadium where I grew up playing age group, Ranji cricket. I also played for India there. Those memories stay fresh in your mind. You can feel it because that is where everything started, selectors saw you for the first time and gave you an opportunity. It is special to go back and play at Arun Jaitley Stadium. We used to practice in B grounds and watch Ranji teams practice in the main grounds. It is awkward for me to be playing in front of a pavillion named after me. I do not like to talk about it a lot. But it is a great honour and I feel happy and grateful about it, it is something I never felt would happen to me," Virat said in the video.

They both got #TeamIndia the first win of #CWC23

As the bandwagon moves to Delhi, here's @imVkohli & @klrahul dissecting their match-winning partnership against Australia

P.S. The local lad is bracing himself for his homecoming

Watch the full interview … pic.twitter.com/HSXYovY43T

— BCCI (@BCCI) October 9, 2023

Talking about their 165-run partnership against Australia, which helped them chase down a target of 200 runs after beinng reduced to 2/3, Virat said that it was "bit more special" than their partnership in the Asia Cup against Pakistan of 233 runs for the third wicket.

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Indian TV Actor Claims Sister, Husband Killed In "Cold Blood" By Hamas

Israel's offensive against Hamas in Gaza has intensified after last week's 'shock and awe' attacks by the Palestinian group. Over 3,000 have died as the war entered the fourth day.

Families on both sides of the border grieve the loss of their loved ones. Stories of brutality unleashed on the innocent are emerging amid a barrage of attacks from Hamas and Israel's all-out operation to take "full control" of Gaza.

Madhura Naik, an Indian TV actor, said her cousin sister and her husband were murdered in "cold blood" in front of their children. In a video message shared on Instagram, the Naagin actor, a Jew of Indian origin, said, "The grief and emotions my family face cannot be expressed in words. As of today, Israel is in pain and the streets are burning in flames in the wrath of Hamas."

"Women, children, the old and the weak are being targeted," Ms Naik said, adding she was trolled on social media after she posted a picture of her sister and her family and said "It shows how deep the pro-Palestinian agenda runs. I was shamed, humiliated and targeted for being Jewish."

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A post shared by Madhura Naik 🧿 (@madhura.naik)

The story of Odaya and her family shows the brutal nature of one of the bloodiest Israel-Hamas wars in recent years. Many children are now orphaned and several have died in the relentless rocket attacks and counter air strikes. Death, fear, and destruction cast a sombre shadow over the streets on both sides of this conflict.

Hamas gunmen killed more than 100 people in the kibbutz of Beeri alone, said Moti Bukjin, a volunteer with the charity Zaka who recovers bodies in accordance with Jewish law.

"They shot everyone," he told AFP. "They murdered in cold blood children, babies, old people -- every one."
 
Israel said it recaptured Gaza border areas from Hamas. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Israel's military campaign following Saturday's onslaught was only the start of a sustained war to destroy Hamas and "change the Middle East".

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Encounter Breaks Out Between Security Forces, Terrorists In J&K's Shopian

An encounter broke out between terrorists and security forces in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, police said.  There were no reports of any casualties so far.

"Encounter has started at Alshipora area of Shopian. Police and security forces are on the job. Further details shall follow," Kashmir Zone Police posted on X.

The encounter began after security forces launched an anti-terrorists operation in the Alshipora area after receiving information about the presence of terrorists there. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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US Warns Hezbollah Not To Open New Front Against Israel

Lebanese militant group Hezbollah should not make the "wrong decision" of opening a second front against Israel as it battles attacks by Hamas, a senior US defense official warned Monday.

"We are deeply concerned about Hezbollah making the wrong decision and choosing to open a second front to this conflict," the official told journalists.

One of the reasons Washington is deploying a carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean is to signal that Iran-backed groups such as Hezbollah should not "question the commitment of the US government to support the defense of Israel," the official said.

The US announced the decision on the strike group, which includes an aircraft carrier and other warships, on Sunday -- a day after Hamas militants launched an unprecedented multi-pronged attack on Israel's southern flank from the blockaded Gaza Strip, leaving hundreds of people dead.

Israel and Hezbollah have already traded fire this week, but have stopped short of the devastating full-scale war they fought in 2006 -- a repeat of which would force Israel's military to fight on two fronts, stretching its forces thin.

Hezbollah said Israeli strikes killed three of its members on Monday, after which it targeted two Israeli barracks.

The senior defense official likened the weekend attacks by Hamas to the notorious brutality of the Islamic State jihadist group, which is known by the acronym ISIS.

"This is ISIS-level savagery that we have seen committed against Israeli civilians -- houses burned to the ground, young people massacred at music festivals," the official said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"We Did Not Start War But Will Finish It", Warns Israel PM Netanyahu

 In a stern warning to Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday said that "though Israel did not start this war" but "will finish it".

As part of its retaliation against Hamas, Israel has mobilised 3,00,000 troops. This is the largest mobilisation since the 1973 Yom Kippur War when Israel called up 400,000 reservists, Times of Israel reported.

"Israel is at war. We didn't want this war. It was forced upon us in the most brutal and savage way. But though Israel didn't start this war, Israel will finish it," said Mr Netanyahu in an address to the nation.

As many as 2,300 Israelis have sustained injuries and more than 700 have died so far in the surprise Hamas attack on Saturday morning.

PM Netanyahu lashed out Hamas saying that they will pay the price and will remember the same for a long time.

"Hamas will understand that by attacking us, they have made a mistake of historic proportions. We will exact a price that will be remembered by them and Israel's other enemies for decades to come," said Mr Netanyahu.

He also highlighted the plight of those taken hostage, saying, "The savage attacks that Hamas perpetrated against innocent Israelis are mindboggling: slaughtering families in their homes, massacring hundreds of young people at an outdoor festival, and kidnapping scores of women, children and elderly, even Holocaust survivors. Hamas terrorists bound, burned and executed children. They are savages."

Branding Hamas as ISIS, he called on the "forces of civilisation" to unite against the Hamas and defeat it.

"Hamas is ISIS. And just as the forces of civilization united to defeat ISIS, the forces of civilization must support Israel in defeating Hamas," Mr Netanyahu said.

He also went on to thank US President Joe Biden and other world leaders for their support.

"I am in continuous contact with President Biden, and I would like to thank him again, on behalf of all the citizens of Israel, for the commitment of the US in words and deeds for the security of Israel," the Israeli Prime Minister said. "Also, I want to thank many world leaders for your unprecedented support for Israel," he added.

"In fighting Hamas, Israel is not only fighting for its own people. It is fighting for every country that stands against barbarism. Israel will win this war, and when Israel wins, the entire civilized world will win," Mr Netanyahu said towards the conclusion of his speech.

The Israeli military is going on the offence against Hamas with a force "like never before," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Monday.

Hamas said civilian hostages would be executed without warning and the killings broadcast if Israel targets people in Gaza. The group claims to be holding more than 100 hostages, including Israeli army officers, according to CNN.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Watch: Why KL Rahul Gave Shocked Reaction After Hitting Winning Runs

KL Rahul missed out narrowly on a century but was able to guide India to a win over Australia in their opening match of the Cricket World Cup 2023 on Sunday. Rahul remained unbeaten on 97 off 115 deliveries and he was the one who slammed the winning runs for his side. However, his reaction after hitting the final runs of the game has gone viral on social media. India were in deep trouble during their 200-run chase as skipper Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer, and Ishan Kishan were all dismissed without scoring a single run. Rahul stitched together a brilliant partnership with Kohli as both the batters scored half-centuries and India were able to win the game comfortably in the end.

With India needing a six to win in the match, Rahul was still 9 runs away from his century. It was still possible if he could hit a four followed by a six but he ended up hitting the ball for a six first. He was momentarily stunned but he broke into a smile as the stadium erupted following the victory.

Virat Kohli and KL Rahul hit defiant knocks to lift India from a perilous three down for two runs to a six-wicket win over Australia in their opening Cricket World Cup match on Sunday.

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Chasing a tricky target of 200, India lost three batsmen, who all failed to score, inside two overs before Kohli (85) and Rahul (97 not out) put on 165.

Victory was secured with 52 balls to spare.

Spinner Ravindra Jadeja returned figures of 3-28 to help bowl out Australia for 199 in 49.3 overs in the 150th ODI meeting between the two cricket giants.

(With AFP inputs)

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