Israel-Hamas war: over 3,600 dead on both sides, lakhs displaced

Over 3,600 Israelis and Palestininans have been killed in the war between Israel and Hamas till October 11.

According to Israel, Hamas has killed more than 1,200 people since the war began on October 7.

The United Nations has said that Israel's air strikes on Gaza have forced more than 260,000 people to flee their homes.

On October 10, the Israeli military said that it had largely reclaimed its southern towns and border around Gaza and dislodged Hamas fighters from more than a dozen towns.

Hundreds of Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7 and over 5,000 rockets were fired from Gaza in 20 minutes. Hamas used explosives and bulldozers to break through the security fence around the blockaded Palestinian enclave.

Using motorbikes, pickup trucks, motorised gliders and speed boats, the militants streamed into Israel.

Israel declared war on Hamas on October 8 and has since unleashed thousands of air strikes on the militia's positions inside Gaza.

On October 9, Hamas threatened to start killing hostages every time Israel launches a strike on a civilian target without warning.

It has ruled out negotiating a prisoner swap with Israel as "the military operation is still ongoing".

Its chief Ismail Haniyeh vowed Saturday to press ahead with "the battle to liberate our land and our prisoners languishing in occupation prisons".

Hamas has called on "resistance fighters in the West Bank" as well as in "Arab and Islamic nations" to join the battle.

(with AFP inputs)