Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue heavy bombardments of Gaza to crush Hamas, as the death toll in the enclave surpassed 130. In a video address on Friday, Netanyahu said: 'They attacked our capital, they fired rockets at our cities. They're paying and will continue to pay dearly for that.' He added that Israel would 'continue to do so with great force.'
The conflict, now in its fifth consecutive night, has seen Israeli forces fighting on three fronts. In the West Bank, at least 11 Palestinians were killed in clashes with Israeli troops during the most widespread protests in years. In Gaza, an airstrike on a house killed seven Palestinians, the highest single-hit toll, bringing the total to at least 132 dead, including 32 children and 21 women, with 950 wounded, according to Palestinian medical officials.
In northern Israel, a Hezbollah fighter from Lebanon was shot dead by Israeli forces after a small group attempted to cross the border. The 21-year-old, named as Mohamad Kassem Tahan, died from his wounds, Hezbollah said. The incident heightened fears of a Lebanese incursion by the Iran-backed group.
On the Israeli side, eight people have been killed, including a soldier and six civilians, two of them children. Hamas militants have continued firing rockets into Israel. Netanyahu warned: 'It's not over yet,' and asserted that Israel can reach Hamas leaders 'everywhere.'
