Top news of the day: Palestinians say at least 198 killed in Gaza in Israeli retaliation for a Hamas assault; India ends Hangzhou Asiad campaign with record 107 medals, and more

Top news updates from The Hindu on October 07, 2023

Palestinians say at least 198 killed in Gaza in Israeli retaliation for Hamas assault

The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza says at least 198 people have been killed and at least 1,610 wounded in the territory in Israel’s retaliation after a wide-ranging Hamas assault into Israel. The toll came as Israel has carried out a number of airstrikes in Gaza and has clashed with gunmen at the border fence around the coastal territory. Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented infiltration on October 7 into southern Israel and fired thousands of rockets into the country as the ruling Hamas militant group announced the beginning of a new operation. “We are at war,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised address, declaring a mass army mobilization. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed solidarity with Israel after the attack and said, ““Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour.”

Hangzhou Asian Games | Indian contingent finishes with record 107 medals

India finished with a record haul of 107 medals at the Hangzhou Asian Games, its best ever, on October 7, the penultimate day of the event. India has won 28 gold, 38 silver and 41 bronze medals. There are no events scheduled for India on the final day of the event on October 8. On October 7, Day 14 of the event, India clinched six golds, four silvers and two bronzes.

Sikkim flash floods: Eight soldiers killed; search on for 14 missing

Even as search operations are ongoing to retrieve the 23 missing soldiers, one was found alive while another eight lost their lives in the flash floods the followed in the aftermath of a glacial lake burst in Sikkim. Search efforts continue to locate the 14 soldiers who are still missing. “Out of the 23 missing soldiers, one was rescued while the mortal remains of eight brave soldiers were recovered. Their sacrifice, while being deployed in forward areas in the service of the nation, will not be forgotten. Search operations to rescue remaining 14 soldiers and missing civilians are underway,” Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

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