The Israeli rescue service Zaka says its paramedics removed more than 260 bodies from a music festival that came under attack by Hamas militants.
The total figure of bodies found is expected to be higher, as other paramedic teams were also working in the area and Zaka added that the bodies “haven’t all been collected yet”.
Early on Saturday morning, Hamas targeted Nova music festival, a techno rave in the desert near the border with Gaza.
Videos shared on social media and by Israeli news outlets showed dozens of festival-goers running through an open field as gunshots rang out. Many hid in nearby fruit orchards or were gunned down as they fled.
Strictly speaking, it’s the governing body of Gaza, which hasn’t held elections in well over a decade. The West Bank is governed by the party Fatah, which is much less militant.
There is, however, the awkward truth that the West Bank has also not held elections in a long time, precisely because Hamas would probably win them.
At last count, Hamas had something like a 75 percent approval rating in Gaza.
The support among all Palestinians is just over 50 percent.
Only 14 percent support the opposition party.