Numerous armed members of the islamist militant organisation Hamas are still at loose and appear to have attacked southern Israel unexpectedly.
According to Israel’s military, it is conducting a “situational assessment” while attacking targets in the Gaza Strip.
Air raid sirens sounded all around the nation earlier as dozens of rockets were fired toward Israel.
There has been one fatality, and there have been reports of explosions close to Tel Aviv and in the vicinity of Gaza.
The attack has been attributed to the Palestinian militant group Hamas, whose armed branch claimed credit and said it fired 5,000 missiles in 20 minutes.
The group “had begun a massive firing of rockets into Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip,” according to Israel’s Defense Forces (IDF), and militants had invaded Israeli territory “in different locations.”
Hamas will “face the consequences and responsibility for these events,” according to the statement, which also stated that the commander of the general staff was conducting a “situational assessment.”
It continued by saying that although civilians in the southern and central regions are “required to stay next to shelters,” those living in the area around the Gaza Strip have been instructed to stay inside.
The Magen David Adom rescue organization in Israel reported one fatality and 15 injuries.
Israeli firefighters are seen fighting fires in the city of Ashkelon in video from the Reuters news agency as dense plumes of smoke rise from burned-out automobiles.
In response to the missile attacks, security chiefs are scheduled to meet, according to the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
