ISRAELI military forces have declared a “state of war” after a shocking early morning attack saw thousands of rockets fired into the country.
One person is confirmed dead and dozens are injured following the horror surprise attack from Hamas militants which has seen fighting spill over into the streets.
ReutersOne person is dead after thousands of rockets were fired into Israel[/caption]
ReutersFootage showed buildings ablaze following the attacks, including in Tel Aviv[/caption]
A paraglider attempted to infiltrate southern IsraelTwitter
Fighters were seen infiltrating the border on motorbikesReuters
ReutersCivilians are trying to flee the horrific attacks[/caption]
Israeli military forces have begun striking Hamas targets in Gaza in response to the early morning onslaught.
As chaos unfolds on the ground, phone footage has shown Hamas fighters attempting to reach Israel by small boats – an unprecedented method of infiltration.
Fighting has also begun in city streets and gunmen in jeeps are “roaming the countryside”.
Small planes and para gliders have been filmed crossing the southern Israeli border as the fighting spreads through air, land and sea.
Reports of militants breaking into Israeli borders on motorcycles and with tractors through the frontier barrier have also been reported.
Footage on social media shows cars and buildings up in flames, with large plumes of smoke seen from miles away.
Air raid sirens have been activated across southern and central Israel, as explosions continue to hit the cities of Tel Aviv, Ashkelon, Yavne and Kfar Aviv.
An Israeli woman has reportedly been killed in the attacks, a pensioner is fighting for their life and a 20-year-old man was also injured after being hit by shrapnel, according to the Israeli Ambulance Service.
Hospitals in south Israel have revealed they are treating upwards of 150 victims, with some in serious condition.
The UK Deputy Ambassador to Israel, Ben Myers, said on Twitter: “I utterly condemn this morning’s attacks by Hamas terrorists on Israeli civilians.
“I am in contact with Israeli authorities. Such terrorist attacks are unjustifiable, and Israel has every right to defend itself.”
Israel Defence General Daniel Hagari posted a warning on Twitter: “Hamas is the sovereign in the Gaza Strip, which is behind this attack, and will bear the results and responsibility for the events.”
Israel has ordered locals to stay near bomb shelters within their homes and said: “The military declares a state of war alert.”
Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant has authorised mobilisation of military reservists, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is said to be holding an emergency meeting with his security cabinet.
The Israeli military said “a number of terrorists have infiltrated into Israeli territory”, and that it was striking targets in the Gaza Strip.
It declared: “The Hamas terror group will pay a very heavy price.”
The shock attack comes on the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, also known as the Ramadan War, which lasted for nearly three weeks.
Mohammad Deif, Hamas military commander, said on Hamas radio that 5,000 rockets had been launched.
Hamas TV has since said 2,000 additional rockets have been fired, marking hours of nonstop pummelling of Israel.
He said: “This is the day of the greatest battle to end the last occupation on earth.”
Violence previously erupted between Israel and Palestine in 2021 when protests turned into airstrikes and rocket attacks.
Palestinians had been protesting attempts by settlers to forcibly evict a number of Palestinian families from their homes at Al-Aqsa Mosque, a flashpoint located on a mount in the Old City revered by Muslims and Jews.
Hundreds died in the 11 day crisis in May 2021, prompting a meeting from the UN Security Council.
Israel and Palestine have engaged in fierce conflicts for decades, as the Arabic and Jewish communities clash over who owns the region and who has the right to live there.
After World War II and the Holocaust, Jews seeking their own country were given a large part of Palestine.
Arabs already living in the area didn’t accept this, so the two parties went to war in 1948 and later in 1967.
Israel still controls most of Gaza’s borders and coastal territory, deciding who can get in and out of Gaza, including goods.
Hamas – the largest of several militant Islamist groups in Palestine – refuses to recognise Israel as a country and wants Palestinians to be able to return to their old home.
EPAFires are blazing as the bombardment continues[/caption]
ReutersPalestinians were seen breaking across the border with tractors and motorbikes[/caption]
GettyIsrael has declared a state of war[/caption]
ReutersIsraeli soldiers and police have begun fighting back[/caption]
ReutersPalestinians were seen celebrating after an Israeli tank was destroyed[/caption]
GettyRockets shot across the sky this morning[/caption]
AFPCharred shells of cars littered the streets in Ashkelon[/caption]
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