'Battle To End Last Occupation On Earth': Hamas Declares War On Israel, Fires Rockets On Gaza Strip
Hamas militant group has fired a barrage of rockets from the Gaza Strip to Israel in a fresh round of attacks calling it a 'battle to end last occupation on Earth'.
In a big development, the Israeli military said it has begun striking targets in the Gaza Strip after over 5,000 rockets were fired from there towards Israel. The military said that a "number of terrorists have infiltrated" Israel from the Gaza Strip after dozens of rockets were fired from the blockaded enclave, as per AFP. Israel Ambassador to India Naor Gilon said: "#Israel is under a combined attack from Gaza during the Jewish holiday. Both by rockets and ground infiltration of Hamas terrorists. The situation is not simple but Israel will prevail."
According to Reuters, Mohammad Deif, a senior Hamas military commander, announced the start of the operation in a broadcast on Hamas media, calling on Palestinians everywhere to fight. "This is the day of the greatest battle end the last occupation on earth," he said, adding that 5,000 rockets had been launched.
According to AFP, the sounds of at least three explosions could be heard as Israel deployed anti-rocket defenses. One woman was killed in the attack while sirens have been sound in Jerusalem after rocket fire from Gaza. Hamas' Al-Qassam Brigades announced capturing a number of Israeli soldiers during their operation “Al-Aqsa Flood”.
According to Al Jazeera, the rocket fire began from multiple locations in Gaza starting at 06:30am local time (03:30 GMT). Israel’s rescue agency said a 70-year-old woman was critically hurt when a rocket hit a building in southern Israel. A 20-year-old man was moderately injured by rocket shrapnel, it said, as quoted by Al Jazeera.
A report from Reuters mentioned that the Israeli military said defence forces would defend Israeli civilians and the Hamas terrorist organisation would pay a heavy price for its actions. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said he would meet top security officials in the coming hours.
In Gaza, loud sounds of launches could be heard and residents reported armed clashes along the separation fence with Israel, near the southern town of Khan Younis. They claimed to see significant movement of armed fighters.
Israeli Army has meanwhile asked the residents in the area surrounding the Gaza Strip to stay in their homes.
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