BLOODBATH

More than 10 Britons feared dead or missing Hamas: We'll execute hostage for every attack 'Total' Gaza blockade... no power, no food, no fuel

- Giles Sheldrick

ISRAEL is preparing to unleash a "truly terrifying" revenge strike on Hamas terrorists who massacred nearly 1,000 of its civilians and soldiers.

PM Benjamin Netanyahu said the nation had no choice but to launch a full ground assault to wipe out militants' bases in Gaza.

As Israeli forces besieged the enclave - cutting off water, food and power to its two million residents - it was reported that more than 680 people had been killed there in initial retaliation for a bloodbath rampage by 1,000 Hamas gunmen across southern Israel.

Mr Netanyahu called up 300,000 reservists as he prepared to reduce the Palestinian territory to rubble within hours. Israel's leader earlier warned his ally US President Joe Biden: "We have to go in, we can't negotiate now. We need to restore deterrence."

Mr Netanyahu vowed to his reeling country: "I know you've been through tough, terrible things. What Hamas will go through will be tough and terrible we're already in the midst of the battle and we've only just begun.

"The nation will turn over every stone to help you all. I ask that you stand strong because we are going to change the Middle East.

"This is only the beginning...we are all with you and we will defeat them with force, enormous force." As Israel launched a third day of heavy air attacks on Gazan targets, Mr Netanyahu added: "We have only started striking Hamas.

"What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations."

He said "a number of Palestinian gunmen are still inside Israel".