Israel describes it as a rescue operation – Hamas as a massacre of Palestinians.
A day after the operation in the refugee camp Nuseirat in central Gaza, the reported death toll continues to rise.
Many Israelis are still celebrating. The news that four of the hostages taken by Hamas during the terrorist act on 7 October have been freed was met with jubilation in several parts of Israel.
The aftermath is perhaps most noticeable in the hospitals, which are overflowing with wounded Palestinians. Many bodies have also been taken there.
According to health authorities in the Hamas-controlled area, 274 people were killed and nearly 700 injured when hundreds of Israeli soldiers entered the camp to free the captives.
The figures have not been verified by an independent party, but medical staff have testified to the influx of wounded after the operation took place on Saturday morning.
Bombs rained down and destroyed homes where people were still living, according to Muhannad Thabet, who lives in Nuseirat.
The Israeli forces entered two multi-storey buildings simultaneously.
In one of the buildings, 26-year-old Noa Argamani was in an apartment, while in the other were 22-year-old Almog Meir Jan, 27-year-old Andrei Kozlov and 41-year-old Shlomi Ziv.
According to Israel's military, the three men were in a Hamas member's family home.
All were rescued and are described by Israel's military as being in "good medical health".
The rescue of Noa Argamani was carried out without major resistance, but in the other building, the soldiers were met with heavy gunfire, according to Israel's military spokesperson Daniel Hagari. One soldier was killed.
The fighting destroyed several blocks.
According to the terrorist-designated Hamas, three other hostages died during the operation – a claim that has not been confirmed.
About 120 hostages are believed to still be held by Hamas – a third of them are feared to have died.
