Finance
Israel’s offensive against Hamas in Gaza has intensified after last week’s ‘shock and awe’ attacks by the Palestinian group. Over 3,000 have died as the war entered the fourth day.
Amidst this somber backdrop, poignant stories of brutality are emerging on both sides of the border. These narratives serve as a stark reminder of the innocent lives caught in the crossfire. Concurrently, a relentless barrage of attacks from Hamas persists, further intensified by Israel’s resolute all-out operation aimed at achieving “full control” of Gaza.
Madhura Naik, an Indian TV actor, revealed that someone murdered her cousin sister and her husband in front of their children in “cold blood.” In her video message on Instagram, the Naagin actor, a Jew of Indian origin, conveyed, “I cannot find words to express the grief and emotions my family is experiencing.” At this very moment, Israel is engulfed in pain, with the streets ablaze under the wrath of Hamas.
Ms. Naik said, “They are targeting women, children, the elderly, and the weak.” She added that she faced trolling on social media after she posted a picture of her sister and her family and said, “It shows how deeply ingrained the pro-Palestinian agenda is. They shamed, humiliated, and targeted me for being Jewish.”
Odaya and her family’s story vividly illustrates the brutal nature of one of the bloodiest Israel-Hamas wars in recent years. The relentless rocket attacks and counter air strikes have left many children orphaned and claimed several lives. Both sides of this war now bear witness to a sombre shadow cast by death, fear, and destruction.
Moti Bukjin, a volunteer with the charity Zaka who recovers bodies in accordance with Jewish law, reported that Hamas gunmen alone killed more than 100 people in the kibbutz of Beeri.
“They shot everyone,” he told AFP. “They murdered in cold blood children, babies, old people — every one.”
Israel announced that it has successfully recaptured Gaza border areas from Hamas. Furthermore, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a stern warning, emphasizing that this military campaign, which comes on the heels of Saturday’s onslaught, is merely the inception of a sustained effort to eradicate Hamas and, in his words, “change the Middle East”.
