Israel’s defense minister has told soldiers near the country’s border with Gaza that he has "removed every restriction" and "we will eliminate anyone who fights us" ahead of an expected ground invasion of the Hamas-controlled territory.
The comments from Yoav Gallant came as Israeli airstrikes hit the family home of Mohammed Deif -- the reclusive leader of Hamas’ military wing – in the Gaza city of Khan Younis late last night, killing his father, brother and two other relatives, a senior Hamas official told The Associated Press.
The Israel Defense Forces have been unrelenting in their retaliatory strikes against Gaza following Saturday’s attack by Hamas, posting Wednesday that "A short while ago, the IDF struck an important Hamas operational, political and military center in Gaza -- the Islamic University."
"We will not allow a reality in which Israeli children are murdered," Gallant said in a meeting with Israeli soldiers near the southern border on Tuesday, according to the AP. "I have removed every restriction -- we will eliminate anyone who fights us, and use every measure at our disposal."
LIVE UPDATES: ISRAEL AT WAR WITH HAMAS
As of Wednesday, more than 1,200 people – including 155 Israeli soldiers – have been killed in Israel since Hamas started attacking the country over the weekend, the Israeli military says.
In Gaza, around 1,055 people have been confirmed dead there, the Palestinian Ministry of Health announced.
Gaza’s power authority says its sole power plant will run out of fuel on Wednesday, leaving the territory without electricity after Israel cut off supplies. Palestinians there have long relied on generators to power homes, offices and hospitals, but have no way of importing fuel for those either.
US AMMO ARRIVES IN ISRAEL AHEAD OF EXPECTED GROUND OPERATION IN GAZA
The U.N.’s World Health Organization said that supplies it had pre-positioned for seven hospitals also have already run out amid the flood of wounded. The head of the medical aid group Doctors Without Borders said surgical equipment, antibiotics, fuel and other supplies were running out at two hospitals it runs in Gaza.
Israel has mobilized 360,000 reservists and appears increasingly likely to launch a ground offensive into Gaza.
The exact number of Israeli forces currently massing near the Gaza border is unclear. The IDF did not immediately respond Wednesday morning for a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
