Israeli army reports clashes with 18 Palestinians near Gaza Strip on Tuesday

The Israeli army announced on Wednesday that its forces clashed with 18 Palestinian militants around the Gaza Strip and the city of Ashkelon on Tuesday.

Army spokesman Daniel Hagari told the official Israel Broadcasting Authority: "Yesterday (Tuesday), clashes took place with 18 militants in the areas neighboring Gaza Strip and Ashkelon."

He pointed out that "no militant infiltrations from the Gaza Strip were recorded during the last two days," adding: "The evacuation of towns neighboring Gaza has been completed, and there are some residents who have chosen to remain in their homes."

He pointed out that the Israeli army "continued its air strikes on hundreds of targets in the Gaza Strip," saying that the army would "increase attacks and prepare for the next stages of the war," without giving further details.

Hagari claimed: "We counted 1,000 bodies (of Palestinians), and hundreds more on the fence. This indicates the scale of the attack. They did not plan for an attack and retreat, but rather for a lasting occupation."

He added: "So far, about 5,000 missiles have been launched at Israel."

The Palestinian factions have not yet commented on what was reported by the Israeli army spokesman.

In a dramatic escalation of Mideast tensions, Israeli forces have launched a sustained and forceful military campaign against the Gaza Strip, a response to a military offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas in Israeli territories. The conflict began when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel, a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea, and air, which Hamas said was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers' growing violence against Palestinians.

In response to Hamas' actions, the Israeli military launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip. Israel's response has extended into cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza, further worsening the living conditions in an area that has reeled under a crippling siege since 2007.