Hamas claims to have captured Israeli commander

It comes after the massive assault by terrorist gunmen and barrage of rocket fire from the Gaza Strip this morning.

Hamas deputy chief Saleh al-Arouri told Al Jazeera that the terror group had captured “a big number” of Israelis. He claimed “senior officers” were among them.

He later claimed the group was engaged in a battle for freedom, adding: “This is not a [hit-and-run] operation; we started an all-out battle. We expect fighting to continue and the fighting front to expand.

"We have one prime target: our freedom and the freedom of our holy sites."

The head of the elite Multidimensional unit, also known as the “Ghost” unit, Col Roi Levy was killed on Saturday as his forces battled Hamas terrorists in the southern community of Re’im.

The IDF says he “led his team bravely, engaged [the terrorists], and entered the battle first in Kibbutz Re’im, in order to save citizens who were besieged in their homes.”