Zaka, an emergency rescue service that specializes in handling the bodies of the dead, told CNN Sunday that it had confirmed “around 500” people are dead.

That number does not include people who died or were declared dead in hospitals, and Zaka has not been able to reach every location where people are thought to have been killed, meaning the total number is almost certainly more than 500, the American news channel reported.

Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces said schools in the country will remain shut amid ongoing fighting between Israel and Hamas grouping the Gaza Strip.

Additionally, businesses south of Netanya and north of the central Negev can only be opened if there is ready access to bomb shelters, the military says, as quoted by The Times of Israel.

Gatherings are restricted to 10 people outdoors and 50 people indoors in those areas, the IDF Home Front Command says.

The restrictions will currently remain valid till Tuesday at 6 pm.

However, the time might be extended further due to the ongoing fighting.

Top UN officials were “in close contact with all concerned to urge maximum restraint” following “horrific scenes of violence” that left dozens dead and hundreds wounded in Israeli cities near the Gaza Strip amid rocket attacks by armed Palestinian militants early Saturday morning, with the UN Security Council announcing it would hold a Sunday afternoon private meeting to discuss the matter.

The UN Secretary-General condemned “in the strongest terms” the attack by Hamas against Israeli towns, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said.

‘State of war’

At dawn, a Hamas-led operation launched thousands of rockets towards Israel from the Gaza Strip, according to the UN relief agency for Palestinians, UNRWA, and its latest situation report.

In response, “Israeli authorities declared that the country is in a state of war and called up military reservists,” according to the agency, which is based in Gaza.

By mid-day, UNRWA reported that “Israeli forces launched operation ‘Iron Sword’ with strikes on the Gaza strip by air, land and sea.”

At nightfall, the agency said the Ministry of Health in Gaza reported 232 people had been killed and 1,697 injuries, including two UNRWA students. Meanwhile, “at least 20,363 internally displaced people were sheltering in 44 UNRWA schools in all areas in the Gaza Strip, except Khan Younis, 28 of which are designated emergency shelters.

Attacks, abductions

“The attacks have so far claimed numerous Israeli civilian lives and injured many hundreds,” Mr. Dujarric said. “The Secretary-General is appalled by reports that civilians have been attacked and abducted from their own homes.”

The UN chief is deeply concerned for the civilian population and urges maximum restraint and that “all diplomatic efforts” are made “to avoid a wider conflagration”, the UN Spokesperson said. “Civilians must be respected and protected in accordance with international humanitarian law at all times.”

With deepest condolences to the families of the victims, the UN chief called for the immediate release of all abducted persons, Mr. Dujarric said.

“He stresses that violence cannot provide a solution to the conflict, and that only through negotiation leading to a two-State solution can peace be achieved,” the UN Spokesperson said.

Targeting civilians

“I vehemently condemn this morning’s multi-front assault against Israeli towns and cities near the Gaza Strip and barrage of rockets reaching across central Israel by Hamas militants,” said Tor Wennesland, the UN's Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process.

“These events have resulted in horrific scenes of violence and many Israeli fatalities and injuries, with many believed to be kidnapped inside the Strip,” he said. “These are heinous attacks targeting civilians and must stop immediately.”

Deeply concerned for the well-being of all civilians, he said he is “in close contact with all concerned to urge maximum restraint”.

“This is a dangerous precipice and I appeal to all to pull back from the brink,” he said, calling on all sides to protect civilians.