After four days, Israel announced it had recaptured areas around the Gaza Strip, although bombardments against Hamas continued, in an all-out siege that has left thousands dead.

The increase in violence occurred on October 7, when the Islamist movement launched an offensive and entered Israel by air, land and sea.

“We are already in the middle of the campaign, but this is just the beginning. We will win by force, with a lot of strength,” warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

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Security forces “have more or less regained control” of the border with Gaza, but “infiltration may continue,” military spokesman Richard Hecht said.

Meanwhile, the death toll in Israel has risen to more than a thousand deaths, including many foreigners, the Israeli army announced on Tuesday evening. The army also said it had found the bodies of 1,500 Hamas fighters.

On the Palestinian side, 765 people were killed and about 4,000 injured in Israeli bombardments on Gaza, according to local authorities.

There are several Latin American countries that have reported casualties or missing persons as a result of the conflict. In the case of Ecuador, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has indicated that they are not affected by the conflict.

A resident of Ecuador living in the center of the country explains that the situation is dire as explosions can be heard generated by the Iron Dome, a defense system that monitors Israeli airspace.

Due to the situation, he reported that classes had been suspended, as well as some jobs.

“On Saturday we woke up to the sound of explosions and this was it,” he said. Furthermore, he indicated that they have about two minutes to seek refuge, unlike other population groups, where the time is shorter.

In an interview with NotimundoEcuadorian Yelcy Angulo said she had spoken to friends who were from Riobamba and lived in a town near the Gaza Strip.

“They are doing well, we know nothing happened to them, they were difficult days, but nothing happened to them,” he added.

Angulo reported that the children of Ecuadorians born in Israel had been summoned to the reservation. “There is no option to say I can’t do it.” (JO)