At least one person was killed in Israel in massive rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip. Palestinian militants have advanced into Israeli towns – reservists are being mobilized in the country.
Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip fired scores of rockets at targets in Israel on Saturday morning. Warning sirens wailed in various cities across the country, the army said. Rocket alarms were also heard in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The military called on residents of the southern and central parts of the country to move to protected areas.
According to initial findings, one person was killed and at least 15 others were injured in the attacks. The Magen David Adom rescue service said a woman aged around 60 was fatally injured in a direct hit near Gedera. Two people suffered serious injuries in the attacks from Gaza. Several other people in the south and in the coastal plain were taken to hospitals.
Hamas declares beginning of one “Military operation”
The Islamist Hamas, which rules in Gaza, declared the start of a “military operation” against Israel. Hamas has decided to put an end to Israeli “crimes,” said Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif in a message. “So the enemy will understand that the time to rage without being held accountable is over. We announce the beginning of the ‘Al Aksa Flood’ operation.” He spoke of 5,000 rockets being fired. “This is the day of the great battle.”
Deif also called on Israeli Palestinians and Arab populations beyond Israel’s borders to take part in the attacks on Israel.
According to its own information, the Palestinian militia Islamic Jihad is also involved in the attacks.
Palestinians invade Israel
As the Israeli military announced, several armed Palestinians also entered Israeli territory in the course of the attacks. In the city of Sderot they exchanged fire with Israeli forces. The mayor of the city confirmed this, and videos on social media also prove it.
Itamar Revivo, a local politician from Ashkelon, said on Israeli television that the militant Palestinians were sometimes landing in the towns using drones.
Reservists are mobilized
Israel’s Defense Minister Joav Galant approved the mobilization of reservists. A Defense Ministry spokeswoman said this should be done “according to the needs of the Israeli army.” According to eyewitnesses, the army began shelling targets in the Gaza Strip.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to hold security consultations with representatives of the Defense Ministry and the army later in the day. Israel is currently celebrating the Jewish festival of Simchat Torah in honor of the Jews’ holy scripture.
Always clashes
The situation in the Palestinian territories, especially in the occupied West Bank, had recently become more dire again. Four Palestinians have been killed there since Thursday in their own attacks or in confrontations with the Israeli army.
There have been several violent protests at the Gaza border in the past month. Explosive devices were also thrown at soldiers and several Palestinians were injured by gunfire. In light of the incidents, the Israeli air force repeatedly attacked posts of the militant Palestinian organization Hamas, which rules in the Gaza Strip.
According to the UN, more than two million people live in very poor conditions in the Gaza Strip. Hamas, classified as a terrorist organization by the EU, USA and Israel, violently seized sole power in 2007. Israel then tightened a blockade of the coastal area, which Egypt supported.
With information from Jan-Christoph Kitzler, ARD Tel Aviv