Active hostage situations in at least two Israeli communities

Hamas terrorists have reportedly taken over multiple civilian residences in Kibbutz Be’eri and Ofakim.

JNS

Published October 7, 2023

Photo by Jamal Awad/Flash90.

Israeli security forces search from Hamas terrorists in the southern Israeli city of Sderot, Oct. 7, 2023.

(JNS) — Hamas terrorists were still holding hostages in Kibbutz Be’eri and Ofakim, some 12 miles from the Gaza border, on Saturday night.

“Many houses have been taken over, there are hostages, there are dead and wounded,” Israel’s Kan News public broadcaster quoted an official at Kibbutz Be’eri as saying.

Around 5:30 p.m., 11 hours into Hamas’s terror assault on Israel, the Israel Defense Forces reported exchanges of fire at 22 locations inside Israel.

According to the IDF spokesperson, 35 battalions are working to neutralize terrorists roaming Israel’s streets.

Local media reported that nine Palestinian terrorists were neutralized near Kibbutz Nirim, while Israeli fighter jets killed another four terrorists in the area of the Erez Crossing and Kibbutz Nir Oz. Additional terrorists were taken out in Kibbutz Sufa, Kfar Aza and Kerem Shalom.

Meanwhile, an airstrike intercepted two additional terrorists who attempted to cross the border fence near the Karni Crossing.

The IDF on Saturday night released footage of an airstrike on a terror squad in Kibbutz Be’eri.

Hamas killed at least 200 Israelis and wounded more than 1,100 on Saturday as it launched a massive offensive from the Gaza Strip—on Shabbat and the holiday of Simchat Torah—including firing more than 3,000 rockets and sending dozens of terrorists to infiltrate the Jewish state.

Hamas claimed to be holding 53 Israelis hostage in Gaza.