Smoke rises after a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip hit a house in Ashkelon, southern Israel, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. The rockets were fired as Hamas announced a new operation against Israel.
Updated, Oct. 07, 2023. 2.01 PM. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) declared a State Of War alert today after Palestinian militants, Hamas, launched rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip. The Hamas militant group carried out an unprecedented infiltration into southern Israel and fired thousands of rockets into the country.
This is the biggest attack on Israel in years by the Islamist movement. The surprise assault that combined gunmen crossing the border has reportedly killed one woman and injured 15 others.
Air raid sirens were sounded across Israel. The IDF has confirmed the infiltration in several locations near the Gaza border. It said that it had begun striking the targets in response and ordered residents to remain indoors.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for an emergency meeting of top security officials. Israel’s Security Cabinet is due to meet this afternoon at Israel Defense Forces’ headquarters in Tel Aviv. The Prime Minister’s office said that a security assessment is currently being held. The fighting comes after weeks of growing tensions along Israel’s volatile border with Gaza, and clashes in West Bank where some 200 Palestinians have been reportedly killed by the IDF so far this year.
