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Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip executed an unprecedented infiltration Saturday into southern Israel, launching a barrage of thousands of rockets into the country, news agency AP reported. These actions came in conjunction with an announcement from the ruling Hamas militant group, signaling the commencement of a new operation.
Rescue and relief services, Magen David Adom, have reported one fatality and 16 individuals wounded as a result of this morning’s rocket attacks on southern and central Israel. A woman in her 60s lost her life in a direct rocket strike in the southern Gderot region. Among the injured, two are in critical condition, six are in moderate condition, and seven have sustained minor injuries, according to the medical personnel from the rescue services.
In response, Israel initiated strikes on targets within Gaza, setting the stage for what appeared to be the start of another intense round of conflict between these long-standing adversaries.
The sound of rockets launching through the sky was heard in Gaza, accompanied by sirens blaring as far as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem during an extended early morning barrage that persisted for more than two hours.
According to a statement from the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi is holding an assessment and approving plans of action.
“The IDF declares a state of readiness for war. Hamas… which is behind this attack, will bear the results and responsibility for the events,” the statement from the Israeli army said.
IDF also warned that “the Hamas terror group will pay a very heavy price” for its surprise attack this morning.
“Hamas carried out a combined operation that included firing rockets and a terrorist infiltration into the territory of the State of Israel,” the Israeli army said, news agency PTI reported.
As warning sirens blared throughout southern and central Israel, including in Jerusalem, the Israeli military declared a state of preparedness, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called an emergency meeting with security officials.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said he would meet top security officials in the coming hours and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant authorised the call-up of reservists, news agency Reuters reported.
Videos circulating on social media showed what appeared to be uniformed Palestinian gunmen inside the Israeli border town of Sderot. The authenticity of these videos could not be immediately confirmed.
The elusive leader of Hamas' military wing, Mohammed Deif, declared the commencement of what he referred to as "Operation Al-Aqsa Storm." In a recorded message, he emphasised, "Enough is enough," while urging Palestinians to join the fight. Deif also stated that Hamas had launched more than 5,000 rockets into Israel.
Salah Arouri, an exiled Hamas leader, characterised the operation as a response to "the crimes of the occupation.” He underscored that the fighters were standing in defense of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and the numerous Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
The Israeli military verified that infiltration had taken place in several locations near the Gaza border in southern Israel. In response, it issued directives for residents to stay indoors.
“The military declares a state of war alert,” it said in a statement. “In the last hour, the Hamas terrorist organization had begun a massive shooting of rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory, and terrorists infiltrated into Israeli territory in a number of different locations.” It said Hamas “will face the consequences and responsibility.”
A video from Gaza depicted what appeared to be the lifeless body of an Israeli soldier being trampled by an enraged crowd, chanting "God is Great." Meanwhile, another video showed Palestinian militants dragging away a live Israeli soldier on a motorcycle, AP reported. Some other videos showed a crowd of Palestinian men dancing around and atop an Israeli tank that was on fire. The authenticity of the videos could not immediately be verified.
With rocket attacks persisting across southern and central Israel, millions of Israelis received instructions to remain in close proximity to bomb shelters within their homes and apartment complexes. The military advised residents living near Gaza to stay indoors due to the "security incident."
Taking to Twitter, Israel’s President Isaac Herzog said that the country is “in a difficult time.”
“ I strengthen the IDF, its commanders and fighters and all the security and rescue forces and ask to send words of encouragement and strength to all the residents of Israel who are under attack. I call on everyone to obey the directives of the Home Front Command, to show mutual guarantee and calmness. We can help all those who wish us harm!” he wrote.
Meanwhile, the launches came after weeks of heightened tensions along Israel's volatile border with Gaza, and heavy fighting in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, AP reported. Israel has maintained a blockade over Gaza since Hamas, an Islamic militant group that opposes Israel, seized control of the territory in 2007. The enemies have fought four wars since then.
The blockade, which imposes limitations on the movement of both people and goods to and from Gaza, has had a devastating impact on the territory's economy. Israel maintains that the blockade is necessary to prevent militant groups from accumulating weaponry, while Palestinians argue that the closure constitutes a form of collective punishment.
Meanwhile, Palestinian media in Gaza reported a possible attempt by militants to infiltrate Israel, but no further details were immediately known. The rocket fire comes during a period of heavy fighting in the West Bank, where nearly 200 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli military raids this year. Israel says the raids are aimed at militants, but stone-throwing protesters and people uninvolved in the violence have also been killed. Palestinian attacks on Israeli targets have killed over 30 people. These tensions have also spread to Gaza, where Hamas-linked activists held violent demonstrations along the Israeli border in recent weeks. Those demonstrations were halted in late September after international mediation.
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