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

Among the captives are soldiers and civilians, including women, children, and older adults, mostly Israelis but also some people of other nationalities. Egypt's state-run Al-Ahram newspaper said Monday that Egyptian officials are trying to mediate a release of Palestinian women in Israel's prisons in exchange for Israeli women captured by militants.

Mayyan Zin, a divorced mother of two, said she learned that her two daughters had been abducted when a relative sent her photos from a Telegram group showing them sitting on mattresses in captivity. She then found online videos of a chilling scene in her ex-husband's home: Gunmen who had broken in speak to him near the two weeping daughters, Dafna, 15, and Ella, 8. Another video showed the father being taken into Gaza.

"Just bring my daughters home and to their family. All the people," Zin said.

Baca :

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

Palestinians inspect a mosque destroyed in Israeli strikes in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, October 8, 2023.Ibraheem Abu Mustafa | Reuters

Hamas has ruled Gaza since driving out forces loyal to the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority in 2007, and its rule has gone unchallenged through the blockade and four previous wars with Israel.