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After the Israeli army called 300,000 reserve soldiers to duty following Hamas attacks, the return of Israeli citizens of military age living abroad has begun.

Israeli airline companies are increasing the number of flights to bring the reservists home.

At Charles-de-Gaulle Airport in the French capital Paris, Jewish youths preparing to leave for Israel spoke to Reuters about their reactions and feelings.

Speaking at Charles-de-Gaulle Airport as he took his suitcase to baggage claim, Eden, 21, said he was shocked by the news from his country, "I know many people who died... I have three girlfriends who we haven't located yet, it's like hell."

Eden: I think after three years of military service we in the army are pretty well prepared
Eden, who arrived in France a month ago to work, said, "I think after three years of military service we in the army are pretty well prepared... I am ready for war. It's life, there's nothing else we can do. We have to fight. We have to fight," he said.

Shimone, 26, described the attacks that began on Saturday as "shocking" and said he still had not heard from a loved one.

Noting that many of his friends have already joined the army with the call, Shimone said, "All of my friends have now started to serve for the army with their fully equipped horses. We need to join them as soon as possible, that's all."

Ofir, 22, who lives in Vietnam, said that when he received the call for military service, he looked for the shortest and quickest way to get to Israel and ended up flying first from Bangkok to Paris and from there to Israel.


Ofir added that he hopes to be back in his country as soon as possible to be with his friends, family and the people who were injured and killed.

Meanwhile, Israeli television reported that the death toll from Hamas attacks has risen to 900 and at least 2,600 people have been wounded, while Gaza's health minister said at least 687 Palestinians have been killed and 3,726 wounded in Israeli airstrikes.

How did the tension escalate?

Thousands of rockets were fired into Israel from blockaded Gaza on Saturday morning, ending a ceasefire reached after clashes in May.

The Izeddin al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007, announced the launch of "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood" against Israel, firing more than 5,000 rockets.

Hamas threatens to execute Israeli prisoners if civilian targets are hit in Gaza


On Monday, the third day of the war triggered by the surprise and unprecedented attack, the Israeli army ordered a complete encirclement of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.