Israeli Defense Minister Orders 'Complete Siege' on Gaza After Hamas Surprise Attack

Over the weekend, another airstrike on a home in Rafah killed 19 members of the Abu Quta family, including women and children, and five neighbors, said a survivor, Nasser Abu Quta, adding that there were no militants in the family house.

The U.N. said more than 123,000 people have fled their homes in Gaza – many after Israeli warnings of imminent bombardment. The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said a school sheltering more than 225 people took a direct hit. It did not say where the fire came from.

Meanwhile, after about 48 hours of pitched battles, Hagari said the military has "control" of its border communities in southern Israel. Despite some isolated incidents early Monday, "at this stage, there is no fighting in the communities."

Baca :

• Hamas Kills 700 Israeli Civilians, 400 Gaza Residents Fall Victim to Retaliation

He said 15 of 24 border communities have been evacuated, with the rest expected to be emptied in the coming day.

He said the group aims to free all Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, which in the past has agreed to lopsided exchange deals in which it released large numbers of prisoners for individual captives or even the remains of soldiers.