Some 40 hours after Hamas launched its onslaught on Israel in the early hours of Saturday, the country’s forces were still trying to clear out pockets of Palestinian militants on Israeli soil. The Israeli Defence Force claimed to have taken back control in 22 settlements attacked by Hamas, but battles continued at eight more locations.
One of the fiercest exchanges was at Sderot, the settlement town nearest to the main crossing point at Beit Hanoun at the northern end of the Gaza Strip. A group of 40 civilians had been crowded into one room in the centre of the little town. After a day in captivity they were liberated by IDF soldiers, who shot dead the entire squad of Hamas gunmen.
