In a stunning and unexpected move on Saturday, the Palestinian group Hamas unleashed a barrage of 5,000 rockets from Gaza into Israel, along with gunmen infiltrating areas in southern Israel, marking the commencement of “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.”
Senior Hamas military commander Mohammad Deif made the announcement of the operation in a broadcast on Hamas media, calling on Palestinians worldwide to join the fight. He declared it the “day of the greatest battle to end the last occupation on earth” and revealed that 5,000 rockets had been launched.
Amid this onslaught, Israel faced immediate consequences as one Israeli woman lost her life “due to a direct hit,” according to the Magen David Adom emergency services. Ambulance teams were deployed in areas surrounding the Gaza Strip, and sirens blared across Israel, including in Jerusalem. Additionally, 15 people were injured, with two in serious condition.
Gunmen were also reported to have opened fire on passersby in the southern Israeli town of Sderot. Videos circulating on social media depicted clashes in city streets.
The Israeli military issued a statement acknowledging that “a number of terrorists have infiltrated into Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip.” Residents in the vicinity of the Gaza Strip were advised to stay indoors. The military also asserted its commitment to defending Israeli civilians and warned that the Hamas terrorist organization would face severe consequences for its actions.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office disclosed that he would convene with top security officials in the hours to come.
Meanwhile, in Gaza, the sound of rocket launches resonated, and residents reported armed confrontations along the separation fence with Israel, near the southern town of Khan Younis.
Israel’s ambulance service promptly dispatched teams to areas in southern Israel bordering Gaza, urging residents to remain indoors to ensure their safety.
