Israel has declared a “state of war” after thousands of rocket strikes were launched from the Gaza strip by Palestinian militants.
At least 40 people have died and a further 740 are injured after militants were filmed paragliding into Israeli territory before fighting broke out in the streets.
Local police report that at least 60 militants from the Hamas group have crossed the border into the country, in an attack which appears to have taken Israel by surprise, with fighting breaking out in the streets.
Horrific pictures show missiles raining down, with cars on fire and tanks rolling in.
Violence has been escalating over the past 10 days, boiling over overnight before the missile fire this morning (Saturday, October 7). Residents have been ordered to remain indoors.
The elusive leader of Hamas’ military wing, Mohammed Deif, announced the beginning of what he called “Operation Al-Aqsa Storm”.
In a recorded message, he said, “enough is enough”, urging Palestinians to join the fight. Deif boasted that Hamas had fired more than 5,000 rockets into Israel.
Salah Arouri, an exiled Hamas leader, said the operation was a response “to the crimes of the occupation”. Fighters were defending the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and the thousands of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, he claimed.
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