“Operation Al-Aqsa Flood” was started by Hamas, which launched 5,000 missiles into Israel from Gaza. After that, armed individuals entered some areas of southern Israel.
Hamas Launches Rockets Fired into Israel: A senior Hamas military official named Mohammad Deif announced the start of this operation via a Hamas television broadcast. He urged all Palestinians to fight, saying, “This is the day of the greatest battle to end the last occupation on earth.” The extensive rocket deployment was also confirmed by the transmission.
Immediate Reactions and Aftereffects
Magen David Adom emergency services responded to the assault by reporting one Israeli casualty from a rocket impact. In addition, according to AFP, 15 other people were hurt, with two of them suffering critical injuries. Several media outlets and eyewitness accounts confirmed that armed persons had targeted pedestrians in the southern Israeli town of Sderot. Unsettling images from social media showed violent altercations in several urban areas.
The Israeli military announced in a hasty statement that “a number of terrorists have infiltrated from the Gaza Strip into Israel.” Residents near the Gaza Strip were then urged to stay inside for their own safety. “The Israeli Defence Forces will protect Israeli citizens, and Hamas will face severe repercussions,” the military vowed.
High-ranking security officials will consult with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about these developments.
Reports from Gaza highlighted audible launch sounds, with locals describing fierce clashes close to Israel’s border barrier, particularly near the southern town of Khan Younis.
In addition, Israel’s ambulance service has sent personnel to Gaza’s border areas that are particularly vulnerable, emphasising safety instructions for inhabitants to remain inside their houses.