In the Gaza Strip they have never experienced such an attack before, the Israeli military said on Wednesday, highlighting the severity of the strikes against Hamas, with the bloodshed continuing on the fifth day of the war. All indications are that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) ground operation in Gaza is a matter of hours, with the death toll sure to multiply.

At least 1,200 people were killed in Israel following attacks by Hamas since the weekend, including at least 189 Israeli soldiers, Daniel Hagari, the chief spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces, announced at a press conference on Wednesday.

At least 1,100 people were killed, and another 5,339 were injured in Gaza since last Saturday, announced the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

Israel has stepped up its attack on Gaza after the bloody attack by Hamas. Israel also ordered a “full siege” in the enclave, including disruption of electricity, food, water and fuel supplies.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health warned on Wednesday that power outages will lead to the suspension of laboratory tests in hospitals and blood banks in at least 58 laboratories, threatening the lives of thousands of people who need treatment.

The Israeli military pounded Hamas positions in the Strip throughout the day as rockets fired from Gaza hit cities across southern and central Israel, including Tel Aviv.

Briefing military correspondents, Air Force Brig. Omer Tischler said the IDF is attacking Gaza “at an unprecedented level.” “We attack in a way that the Gaza Strip has never experienced, because this is an unprecedented event” he said characteristically. He added that Hamas’ method of hiding its members among civilians “is no longer acceptable.”

Tischler also made it clear that the Hamas invasion that surprised Israel would be investigated, stressing that “as an army, we are all responsible for not preventing this crime.” “We are all responsible and I am responsible,” he said characteristically.

Besides, the afternoon continueds were heard throughout northern Israel of infiltrating enemy aircraft. The IDF later confirmed that there had been no infiltration.

It is noted that the prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the opposition MP Benny Gantz they met and agreed to form an emergency government and wartime cabinet.

According to a source in Netanyahu’s Likud party, it has been agreed that Netanyahu, Defense Minister Galant and Gantz will be part of the war cabinet.