At least 350 Israeli and 300 Palestinians are dead, according to latest reports, as fighting following the Hamas attack continues overnight. 

Hamas fired more rockets from Gaza this morning following yesterday's initial attack, hitting a hospital in the Israeli town of Ashkelon. 

Israeli media has reported 350 deaths, while Palestinian officials say at least 256 people in the Gaza Strip have been killed in Israeli strikes. 

The Israeli Embassy to the US claimed at least 100 people have been kidnapped by Hamas fighters, including women and children. 

The Embassy also reported at least 1,500 Israeli people are injured, while Palestinian health officials reported 1,600 are injured in Gaza. 

Rockets are fired by Palestinian militants into Israel, in Gaza, 07/10/2023. Image: Associated Press / Alamy

The Israeli air force has launched at least 400 counterstrikes in the Gaza area and has claimed to have struck a compound housing the Hamas intelligence department. 

Flights from Dublin Airport are still scheduled to Tel Aviv, but the Department of Foreign Affairs has urged people to avoid non-essential travel to Israel and all travel to Gaza. 

Tánaiste Micheál Martin has condemned the attacks online and called for "an immediate cessation of all hostilities". 

Fire and smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, 08/10/2023. Image: AP / Alamy

Countries around the world have expressed solidarity with either country, including pro-Palestine demonstrations in Iran and Turkey and a pro-Israel march in Germany.

EU Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen said the European Union "stands with Israel", while leaders across the United States have condemned Hamas.

The United Nation's High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Tuerk has called for an immediate halt to the attacks on Israel, saying “civilians should never become a target”. 

Police officers evacuate a woman and a child from a site hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, 07/09/2023. Image: Associated Press / Alamy Stock Photo

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the Government is stopping supplies of electricity, fuel and goods to Gaza and warned of “a mighty vengeance” for the surprise attack. 

“Our first goal is to cleanse the area of the enemy forces that have infiltrated it,” he said. 

This multi-pronged attack is the first of its kind for the Hamas group, targeting from sea, land and air, while also attacking what the Israeli state was an impenetrable security fence surrounding Gaza. 

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said people have the right to defend themselves against the "terror of settlers and occupation of troops". 

Israelis inspect the rubble of a building a day after it was hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, 08/10/2023. Image: Associated Press / Alamy Stock Photo

Palestine Solidarity Campaign member Kamel Hawwash also challenged Mr Netanyahu’s view that the Hamas are terrorists. 

“The Palestinians want peace more than the Israelis do,” he said. 

“That's an important thing to say because we as the Palestinians are the oppressed people. We are the people whose rights are being trampled on.” 

Israeli soldiers deploy near the Gaza strip outside Ashkelon, 07/10/2023. Image: Associated Press / Alamy Stock Photo

The decades-long conflict between Palestine and Israel is based on ongoing tension surrounding right to territory and freedom of movement in the region. 

According to data from the UN, approximately 6,400 Palestinians and 300 Israelis have died since 2008 as a direct result of confrontations between Palestinians and Israelis.