Palestinian group Hamas launched a massive aerial and ground surprise attack from the Gaza Strip on Israel.
Sirens sounded across Israel and as far north as the contested city of Jerusalem from around 7am on Saturday after volleys of what Hamas claimed were 5,000 rockets launched from the blockaded enclave.
There also appeared to be a ground infiltration by Hamas gunmen towards Israeli towns and villages on the periphery – an unprecedented development in the 16 years since the Islamists took over the strip.
According to unconfirmed initial reports, pictures and video appeared to show that gunmen had opened fire in the border town of Sderot. As a result, at least 22 Israeli soldiers and civilians killed. Hamas also arrested 35 Israeli soldiers and civilians.
Mohammad Deif, Hamas’ military commander in Gaza, in a statement, has announced the start of a new operation to free Jerusalem’s sensitive al-Aqsa mosque compound, which has seen an uptick in Jewish visitors in the last few weeks owing to the Jewish high holidays.
He added that “this is only the first stage” of Hamas’ renewed efforts against Israel.
