The Israeli military launched airstrikes within the Gaza Strip on Saturday in response to an announcement by the Hamas militant group regarding a new operation against Israel. This operation appeared to involve an unprecedented incursion into southern towns. As a result of this incident, air raid sirens were activated across the country, leading to Israeli authorities issuing directives for residents to remain indoors. Multiple reports of injuries and a minimum of four fatalities have been documented.
The incursion occurred concurrently with Hamas militants asserting that they had fired more than 5,000 rockets into Israel, initiating what they referred to as "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood" against the Israeli occupation. While the confirmed death toll stands at one person, numerous individuals are reported to have sustained injuries. Local media also carried accounts of skirmishes taking place in southern Israeli towns affected by the infiltration.
These rocket launches followed a period of heightened tensions along the volatile border separating Israel from Gaza, along with intense confrontations in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Israel has enforced a blockade on Gaza since 2007 when Hamas, an Islamic militant group opposed to Israel, took control of the territory. These two longstanding adversaries have engaged in four conflicts since that time.
