Shock attack against Israel: "Is at war"

Israel  

Shock attack against Israel: "We are at war" 

Niklas Gustafsson  

Updated 12.04 | Published 06.26  

News  

On Saturday morning, Hamas launched a shock attack on Israel.  

A large number of rockets have been fired from Gaza and gunmen have entered the country.  

The Palestinian terrorist group Hamas has claimed responsibility for the attack. 

- We are at war, says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.  

Quick version  

* Hamas launches shock attack on Israel on Saturday morning  

* Rockets are fired from Gaza; armed men enter Israel  

* Martial law declared; several injured and dead  

The air raid warning sounded during Saturday morning in several places in Israel. A large number of rockets have been fired from the Gaza Strip and gunmen in vehicles made their way into Israel. 

 “Israel is under a major attack, rockets have been fired and terrorists are entering villages and surrounding them. We have received many calls about injured people. The situation is very serious," says a spokesperson for the Israeli emergency services.  

State of war declared  

According to police chief Kobi Shabtai, fighting was taking place in 21 different locations in Israel during the morning. 

- We are in a state of war and are under a massive attack from the Gaza Strip, says police chief Kobi Shabtai.  

The Israel Defense Forces, the IDF, writes that they "declare a state of war" and that armed men "infiltrated Israel from Gaza” and urges people to stay in their homes.  

"Sirens are sounding over Israel right now," writes the IDF.  

Hamas claims the attack  

Shortly after the attack began, the Palestinian terror group Hamas, which controls Gaza, claimed responsibility for what it calls the Al-Aqsa tidal wave.  

"We announce the start of operation Al-Aqsa tidal wave," said Mohammed Deif, leader of Hamas' military branch, according to Al Jazeera.  

Hamas writes that this morning's attack was the first and that it hit enemy positions, airports and military targets. According to the organization, 5,000 rockets will be fired.  

The Israeli Defense Forces, the IDF, have also announced that they are attacking targets in the Gaza Strip during the morning.  

Attacks from several directions  

The alarm went off around 06.30 in the morning in several parts of the country. According to Israeli media, several people have died.  

"Israelis all over the country woke up on Shabbat and the holiday of Simchat Torah to the sound of sirens and rockets from Hamas," writes the IDF.  

Videos circulating on social media show gunmen in pickup trucks firing shots in several locations around the country. Pictures and videos also show how Israeli military vehicles have been taken over and Al Jazeera reports that a police station near the border with Gaza has been taken over. Rockets are said to have also hit Tel Aviv and the city of Ashkelon.  

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is said to have been informed of the incident and met with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in the morning, according to CNN. 

Photo: Said Khatib / AFP 

Over 500 injured in the attack  

11.43  

Niklas Gustafsson  

The Israeli radio station GLZ radio reports that 545 Israelis have been taken to hospital