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Published October 7, 2023last updated October 7, 2023
Israeli authorities have said Hamas militants have entered Israeli territory after launching thousands of rockets. Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces has said the country is in a “state of alert for war.”
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Israel said attackers ‘infiltrated’ its territoryImage: Mohammed Fayq Abu Mostafa/REUTERSSkip next section What you need to knowWhat you need to knowEarly Saturday, Islamist-militant Hamas said it has launched 5,000 rockets against Israeli targets. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that “terrorist operatives” have also infiltrated into Israel.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Hamas had made “a grave mistake” by launching “a war” against the country.
The Israeli military said it had responded by carrying out strikes on targets in the Gaza Strip.
Skip next section Israel responds to Hamas attacksOctober 7, 2023
Israel responds to Hamas attacksIsrael launched a series of air strikes against targets in the Gaza Strip following the initial surprise assault by Hamas.
“Dozens of [Israel Defense Force (IDF)] fighter jets are currently striking a number of targets belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip,” the Israeli military said.
Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said Palestinian militant group Hamas has “launched a war against the State of Israel.”
“Troops are fighting against the enemy at every location,” he added.
Violence between Israel and Palestinian militants has been on the rise in the past few years with attacks and clampdowns being carried out in Gaza, Israel and the occupied West Bank.
https://p.dw.com/p/4XEgDSkip next section Hamas launches surprise attack against IsraelOctober 7, 2023
Hamas launches surprise attack against IsraelWarning sirens rang out across several cities throughout Israel, including Tel Aviv, on Saturday morning as Islamist Hamas militants fired off thousands of rockets with some armed Palestinians entering Israeli territory, according to the Israeli military.
“A number of terrorists have infiltrated into Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip. Residents in the area surrounding the Gaza Strip have been asked to stay in their homes,” the Israeli Defence Force wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
Mohammed Deif, military head of Hamas, said the organization was starting what he called the Al-Aqsa Flood operation aimed to end Israeli “violations.”
Hamas is recognized as a terrorist organization by the German government, the EU, the US and some Arab states.
The fighting broke out during the Jewish festival of Simchat Torah.
The Israeli military said that a 60-year-old woman was killed with the Magen David Adom ambulance service saying she died when a rocket directly hit a building near the town of Gedera.
The military reported at least 15 more people being injured in the attack.
ab/dj (dpa, AFP, AP, Reuters)
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