Israel declares state of war after rocket attacks from Gaza

Israel has declared a 'state of war' after a fierce rocket attack from the blockaded Gaza strip, in what Palestine's Hamas militants said was only their "first strike". Over 5,000 rockets pierced the sky towards Israel on a festive holiday morning as loud sirens blared across the country.

The country's defence forces also alerted an alleged infiltration by Hamas militants, who are considered terrorists in Israel. Paragliders were also used in the attack, showed visuals from Israel.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said he will shortly convene a meeting of security chiefs. Hamas will pay a heavy price for its actions, his government has asserted.

The latest violence marks another big escalation in geopolitics in recent years after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"A number of terrorists have infiltrated into Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip. Residents in the area surrounding the Gaza Strip have been asked to stay in their homes," Israel Defence Forces said on X, formerly known as Twitter. Sirens are blazing in the holy city of Jerusalem and across Israel as multiple points of impact have been reported across the country.

The armed wing of Hamas declared it has begun "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood" and said it has fired over 5,000 rockets in the "first strike of 20 minutes."

"We decided to put an end to all the crimes of the occupation (Israel), their time for rampaging without being held accountable is over," the group said.

An elderly Israeli woman was killed "due to a direct hit" in the rocket attacks and 15 others were injured, emergency services said. The government has asked civilians to stay near shelters and those near the Gaza strip to stay home.

"On Shabbat and the holiday of Simchat Torah - non-stop rocket sirens are sounding across Israel, including Jerusalem. Israel is under terrorist infiltration carried out by the Hamas terrorist organization. We will do everything to protect ourselves," asserted the government.

/KN/