Tel Aviv - On Saturday, Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, announced that the nation had entered a state of war following a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Gaza militants and Israel. This escalation involved Gaza-based militants launching a deadly barrage of rockets and sending armed individuals into Israeli territory.
In a video message, Netanyahu declared, "Citizens of Israel, we are at war – not in an operation, not in rounds – at war."
The early morning rocket attacks from Gaza, described as "massive" by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), resulted in at least one fatality and over 100 injuries, according to reports from two hospitals. Hamas, the Palestinian militant group governing Gaza, claimed responsibility for the rocket assault and called for a general uprising against Israel.
Hamas military commander Muhammad Al-Deif urged individuals to take action, stating, "If you have a gun, get it out. This is the time to use it – get out with trucks, cars, axes, today the best and most honorable history starts."
Referring to their operation as "Al-Aqsa Storm," Hamas claimed to have targeted Israeli positions, airports, and military sites with 5,000 rockets in response to attacks on women, the desecration of the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, and the ongoing Gaza blockade. IDF spokesperson Lt Col Richard Hecht confirmed ongoing ground battles at several locations, including Erez Crossing, Nahal Oz, Magen, Kibbutz Beeri, Rehim Army Base, Ziikim Army base, Kfar Azza, and Kibbutz Beeri.
The IDF retaliated by striking "a number of targets belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip." Hecht also revealed plans to call up thousands of reservists.
Israeli citizens near Gaza were advised to stay in their homes or seek shelter as rocket warning sirens continued for hours following the initial attack.
In a statement, the IDF stated, "The Hamas terrorist organization is the sovereign in the Gaza Strip and is responsible for this attack. It will face the consequences and responsibility for these events." Israeli President Isaac Herzog acknowledged the challenging situation and extended support to the IDF and all those affected.
CNN teams in Jerusalem reported rocket warning sirens and the sound of rocket interceptions, as sirens persisted across Israel. The initial rocket barrage occurred early in the morning, likely when most Israelis were asleep.
It is uncommon for Palestinian militants to breach Israel's heavily guarded border from Gaza, which is typically sealed off.
Reports from Israel television Channel 12 suggested that infiltrators from Gaza entered Kibbutz Beeri, and there were unconfirmed reports of hostages taken in Netiv HaAsara.
Social media footage showed masked gunmen in a pickup truck in the Israeli city of Sderot, with audible gunfire.
Magen David Adom rescue service reported one fatality and at least 15 injuries across southern and lowland regions of Israel due to the militant attacks. MDA urged people to follow instructions from authorities and take shelter promptly during alarms.
MDA spokesperson Zaki Heller also called for blood donations, organizing a special blood donation drive in Tel Aviv due to the urgent need.
The rocket attacks extended as far north as the Tel Aviv area, east to Beer Sheva, and various locations in between. Social media footage displayed the aftermath of a rocket strike in Ashkelon, where multiple vehicles were on fire beside an apartment complex.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant held security assessments at Israel Defense Forces headquarters in Tel Aviv.
Gaza, one of the most densely populated areas globally, is an isolated coastal enclave with almost 2 million residents in a 140-square-mile area. Governed by Hamas, Gaza has been under an Israeli blockade since 2007, restricting movement and imports. Egypt controls Gaza's southern border crossing at Rafah.
News Courtesy CNN