We learned today that a ha ve been taken to Gaza as a hostage by Hamas# on October 7 was actually killed during the## initial attack.

That's according to a statement# released by the kibbutz she was taken from.

Meantime, Israel continued its assault on## Gaza today amid an escalating war of# words betwee Stephanie Sy has the story.

STEPHANIE SY: An early morning airstrike# hit Deir al Balah.

The on in Central Gaza.

As the Israeli# offensive against Hamas continues,## grieving families are running# out of space to bury the dead.

SADI BARAKA, Cemetery Worker (through# translator): Here, around 11,000 martyrs## arrived at this cemetery, and, here, they last day of burial in the cemetery,# because the cemetery is almost full.

STEPHANIE SY: Some Gazans traveled south to# escape the fighting, but couldn't outrun the## airstrikes.

In Khan Yunis, the youngest# patients were rushed to the hospital.

YARA SHANAN, Displaced From Gaza City (through# translator): We were sitting and eating when we## found something falling over if they're saying this is because of Hamas.

I wish## we hadn't come to Khan Yunis.

I# wish we had stayed in STEPHANIE SY: In Rafah, the# Hamas-run Health Ministry## said an Israeli airstrike killed# 20 and injured 55 Pale As the airstrikes rain down,# Israeli troops battle Hamas on## the ground.

Hamas released this video of# its militants firing on Israeli military## vehicles.

Amidst the fighting, 129# hostages remain captive in Gaza.

Today, a kibbutz in Israel announced# that an Israeli-American citizen,## Judith Weinstein Haggai, thought to have been# a hostage, was actually killed on October 7,## along with her husband.

Their bodies# are believed to still be held by Hamas.

Meanwhile, the IDF released video# showing what it called widespread## strikes in Southern Lebanon in# response to Hezbollah's firing## of rockets and missiles into Northern Israel.# The Hamas-allied movement is backed by Iran.

LT. COL. PETER LERNER, Spokesman,# Israeli Defense Forces: Iran is a## culprit.

Iran is d STEPHANIE SY: Today, Israel intercepted a# drone above Haifa that took off from Lebanon.

Last night, Benny Gantz, a member of the# war cabinet, said they were ready to engage.

BENNY GANTZ, Israeli War Cabinet Minister# (through translator): The situation on## Israel's out.

If the world and the Lebanese government# don't act in order to prevent the firing on## Israel's northern residents and to distance# Hezbollah from the border, the IDF will do it.

STEPHANIE SY: A Hezbollah deputy said they# were prepared to escalate the fighting.

SHEIKH NAIM KASSEM, Hezbollah Deputy# Chief (through translator): Hezbollah## and the resistance in Lebanon ar the future of this country.

We are making# the sacrifices that the battle requires,## and they are great, but we are# also repelling a great danger.

We are ready for more whenever# necessary.

We are not intimidated## by threats or warnings.

We in the field# are clear that we are part of this battl STEPHANIE SY: A battle that threatens to# expand if hostilities can't be contained.

For the "PBS NewsHour," I'm Stephanie Sy.