40 Israelis Killed, Over 500 Injured After Hamas Fires 5,000 Rockets From Gaza

Forty people have been killed in wide-ranging incursion by the militant group Hamas into Israel, the country’s national rescue service said today. Israel declared war against Hamas, vowing to avenge a fierce rocket attack. It has launched airstrikes.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country is at war and Hamas will pay an unprecedented price. “Citizens of Israel, we are at war. This is not an operation, not an escalation – this is war. And we will win. Hamas will pay an unprecedented price,” he said in a video message.

Over 5,000 rockets pierced the sky towards Israel as loud sires blared across the country on this festive holiday morning. The country’s defence forces also alleged an infiltration by Hamas militants, whom they consider terrorists. Paragliders were used in the attack and cars passing by were fired at on the roads, showed visuals from Israel.

Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said Hamas made a “grave mistake” in launching a war against Israel. “Hamas has made a grave mistake this morning and launched a war against the State of Israel. IDF troops (Israeli army) are fighting against the enemy at every location,” Gallant said in a statement.

“The Israel Defense Forces declares a state of readiness for war. There has been widespread rocket fire into Israeli territory from Gaza, and terrorists have infiltrated Israeli territory through various entry points,” Israeli military earlier said and vowed to defend the country.

The armed wing of Hamas declared it has begun “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood” and said it has fired over 5,000 rockets in the “first strike of 20 minutes.” “We have decided to put an end to all of this, with the help of God, so that the enemy understands that the time of recklessness without accountability is over,” Hamas militant leader Mohamed Deif said in a pre-recorded speech.

Sirens are blazing in the holy city of Jerusalem and across Israel as multiple points of impact have been reported across southern and central parts of the country. The government has asked civilians to stay near shelters and those near the Gaza strip to stay home. An elderly Israeli woman was killed “due to a direct hit” in the rocket attacks and 15 others were injured, emergency services said.