An escalation has been reported in the tension between Israel and Hamas as the latter launched a massive aerial and ground surprise attack from the Gaza Strip today, leaving over 100 people dead including army personnel.
The Palestinian group, Hamas claimed that it had fired 5,000 rockets from the blockaded enclave into Israel. Unconfirmed initial reports and video showed that gunmen had opened fire in the border town of Sderot, killing several Israeli civilians including an elderly woman and soldiers.
Foreign media reported that Hamas announced to launch its operation called Al-Aqsa storm operation at 5am. The Israeli defense ministry said that militants had entered Israeli areas from Ghaza and were targeting Jews settlements.
Israel’s ambulance service said at least 40 Israelis were killed and hundreds wounded in the Hamas attack but the total appeared likely to rise. A Reuters photographer saw multiple bodies lying in streets of the southern town of Sderot.
Hamas, on the other hand, claimed that its fighters attacked an armed personnel carrier in Israeli area and killed a number of soldiers.
Hamas military commander Mohammad Deif announced the start of the operation in a broadcast on Hamas media, calling on Palestinians everywhere to fight the Zionist forces.
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