Israel’s foreign ministry “at this stage” cannot confirm the number of “40 infants” and children killed in Saturday’s massacre by Hamas at Kibbutz Kfar Az in southern Israel, a spokesman told AFP on Wednesday.

Journalists called to see the horrors of HamasPhoto: video shooting

On Tuesday, the X account (formerly Twitter) @Israel, the official account of the State of Israel, published a video by the news station i24NEWS, in which one of its journalists describes, her voice breaking with emotion, the desolation of this kibbutz during visits arranged for the press under security Israeli army.

“40 babies killed,” reads the message at the top of the video.

“No one [dintre soldații care au intrat în Kfar Aza după ce acesta a fost preluat de armata israeliană] could not expect [la o asemenea priveliște morbidă]”, – says another video posted on the channel’s website.

The reporter briefly mentions “the horrors [pe care le aude în relatarea] these soldiers […] at least 40 children were buried.”

Since Tuesday, social media has been abuzz with reports of “40 babies killed” as an example of the barbarity of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas in their offensive against Israel.

Asked by AFP about the number of children killed in Kfar Az, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (which the @Israel account is based on) told AFP: “We cannot confirm any figures at this time.”

“70 armed and trained terrorists” attacked Kfar Azza around 6:30 a.m. Saturday, causing “a massacre, a catastrophe,” according to retired Major General Itay Veruv.

About 400 people lived in Kfar Aza, an agricultural community located 2 km from the Gaza border, before the Hamas attack.

Asked by AFP, several Israeli soldiers sent to the scene said more than 100 civilians had been killed, some as high as 150, including an unknown number of children.

One of them, who did not wish to reveal his identity, spoke about mutilations, including decapitation, but refused to elaborate.

Earlier, Israeli media reported that the Israeli military had discovered unimaginable horrors in an Israeli community attacked by Hamas on Saturday, including dozens of dead children and infants, some decapitated.

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