Israel-Gaza live updates: Israel mobilizes a record 300,000 reservists; Gaza under ‘complete siege’

More than 100 Israeli civilians, soldiers, and foreign nationals have also been taken hostage by Hamas, prompting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declare that his country is at war. Israel says it is working to rescue the hostages and has regained control of areas outside Gaza after some 48 hours of fighting. The Israel Defense Forces said it struck more than 1,000 enemy targets in airstrikes on Gaza. Hamas is a designated terrorist group backed by Iran and that has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007. Gaza, the small strip of land that is home to over 2 million Palestinians within roughly 140 square miles, is one of the most densely populated territories on Earth and has been kept under an Israeli land, air and sea blockade since 2007.