1,500 bodies of Hamas militants found in Israel as it claims full control over border

The Israeli military on Tuesday said that it has found 1,500 bodies of Hamas militants in its territory and claimed it had largely gained control in the south and “restored full control” over the border. A senior member of the Hamas said that the group was shocked by the extent of the operation, saying it had expected Israel to prevent or limit the attack. However, he said the group is ready to fight a long war with Israel. Israeli military Spokesperson Richard Hecht said no Hamas fighters have crossed into Israel since Monday night. “Since last night we know that no one came in .. but infiltrations can still happen,” said Hecht. The army had “nearly completed” evacuation of all the communities around the border, he added. Hecht said the military struck hundreds of Hamas targets overnight in Gaza’s City Rimal neighborhood, which is home to many of Hamas’ ministries and government buildings. He said residents were being notified over social media before the strikes to evacuate, but did not elaborate further. He suggested that Palestinians should try to leave through the Rafah crossing, though he did not specify where they would go or how they would use the crossing that is periodically closed. Meanwhile, a senior member of the Hamas said the group is ready to fight a long war with Israel and will use the dozens of hostages being held in Gaza to secure the release of Palestinians detained in Israel and overseas. Ali Barakeh, a member of the group’s exiled leadership in Beirut, said that Hamas has an arsenal of rockets that will last a long time. “We have prepared well for this war and to deal with all scenarios, even the scenario of the long war,” the Associated Press quoted Barakeh as saying. Barakeh said that only a small number of top commanders inside Gaza knew about Saturday’s incursion into Israel and that even the group’s closest allies were not informed in advance about the timing. He denied reports that Iranian security officials helped plan the attack. However, he added that allies like Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah “will join the battle if Gaza is subjected to a war of annihilation.” He said even Hamas was shocked by the extent of the operation, saying it had expected Israel to prevent or limit the attack. “We were surprised by this great collapse,” Barakeh said. “We were planning to make some gains and take prisoners to exchange them. This army was a paper tiger.” Israel is reeling under a deadly attack by Hamas militants who stormed through the border fence under a barrage of rocket fire on Saturday morning and killed more than 900 people inside Israel. In response Israel is carrying out a massive air and artillery bombardment of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip that has so far killed at least 687 people in the coastal enclave. With inputs from agencies