An Israeli military spokesman acknowledged, on Tuesday evening, that 50 soldiers had been informed by their families that Hamas had kidnapped them during its attack on the cover settlements.

Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hajri pointed out in a press briefing that 155 soldiers had been killed so far, while 44 police officers and policemen were killed while engaging in direct clashes with Hamas members.

He pointed out that his forces eliminated 4 militants who tried to infiltrate from Zikim, along with two others who tried to infiltrate Ra'im.

He claimed that 103 militants were liquidated in Kibbutz Be'eri alone, and hundreds of bodies of militants are being collected in other areas.

He touched on the assassination of two members of the Hamas political bureau, saying that assassinating the movement's leaders is a priority.