Israel has declared a “state of war” after a fierce rocket attack from the blockaded Gaza Strip, which Hamas militants called only their “first attack.” More than 5,000 rockets pierced the sky towards Israel as loud sirens blared across the country on this festive morning.
The country’s armed forces also warned of a suspected infiltration by Hamas militants, who are considered terrorists in Israel. Paragliders were used in the attack, showing images from Israel.
This marks yet another major escalation in geopolitics in recent years following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“A number of terrorists have infiltrated Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip. Residents in the Gaza Strip area have been asked to remain in their homes,” the Israeli army said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Sirens are sounding in the holy city of Jerusalem and across Israel as multiple impact points have been reported across the country.
Hamas’s armed wing declared that it has launched “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood” and said it fired more than 5,000 rockets in the “first 20-minute attack.”
“We have decided to put an end to all crimes of the occupation (Israel). Their time of rampaging without accountability is over,” the group said.