JERUSALEM, Oct. 12 (CGTN) - Israel kept up its bombardment of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a political rival announced an emergency government for the duration of the conflict that has already killed thousands.

The veteran right-wing leader was joined by the centrist Benny Gantz, a former defense minister, in the government and war cabinet as both put aside bitter political divisions that have roiled the country and sparked mass protests.

Their joint announcement came after Israeli soldiers sweeping battle-torn southern towns said they had found a total of 1,200 bodies, mostly civilians slain in the Hamas fighters' onslaught, the worst attack in Israel's 75-year history.

Israel's military also confirmed there are 2,700 wounded.

Gaza's health ministry reported at least 1,100 people killed and another 5,339 wounded in Israel's withering campaign of air and artillery strikes on the crowded Palestinian enclave, where black smoke billowed into the sky and entire city blocks lay in ruins.