Israel-Palestine Conflict News Live Updates (October 8): At least 313 Palestinians have lost their lives so far in retaliatory air strikes by Israel in Gaza, according to Palestine’s health ministry, as reported by news agency Reuters. It added that nearly 2,000 have been wounded so far in the escalation of conflict between Israel and Palestine. Gunmen from Hamas carried out a rampage in Israeli towns on Saturday, killing at least 300 Israelis amid the conflict so far, and abducting several others. Saturday marked the deadliest day of violence in Israel since the Yom Kippur war half a century ago. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, has warned of a “long and difficult” war ahead, saying that the “enemy will pay an unprecedented price”.

A day after Hamas infiltration into the southern part of Israel from the Gaza Strip, tensions are also escalating at the Israel-Lebanon border, with Israeli military saying one of its drones has struck a Hezbollah post in the Har Dov area on the border. The Hezbollah, which is an armed camp backed by Iran, has claimed responsibility for a rocket and artillery attack on the Israeli-occupied Shebaa Farms on Sunday, saying it was “in solidarity” with the Palestinian people. According to three security sources quoted by Reuters, projectiles launched from Lebanon hit an Israeli military post in Shebaa Farms. Meanwhile, an Israeli military spokesperson said operations still ongoing in eight areas around the Gaza Strip.

Know more | World leaders condemn, urge restraint after Hamas launches surprise assault on Israel

What do we know so far? The Israeli military Saturday said that at least 2,500 rockets had been fired into Israel and that armed gunmen had crossed the border fence in several locations along Israel’s perimeter with Gaza. Palestinian militants infiltrated at least seven Israeli communities and army bases this morning, according to the Israeli military spokesman. He said the militants had reached the city of Sderot. The escalation comes after weeks of heightened tensions along Israel’s volatile border with Gaza, and heavy fighting in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.