![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/78\/590x\/secondary\/Israel-4999047.jpg?r=1696662561316\")
<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/78\/590x\/secondary\/Israel-Gaza-4999044.jpg?r=1696662561358\")
<\/p>\n
The elusive leader of Hamas’ military wing, Mohammed Deif, announced the beginning of what he called \u201cOperation Al-Aqsa Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a recorded message, he said: \u201cEnough is enough\u201d, urging Palestinians to join the fight. Deif boasted that Hamas had fired more 5,000 rockets into Israel.<\/p>\n
Salah Arouri, an exiled Hamas leader, said the operation was a response \u201cto the crimes of the occupation.\u201d Fighters were defending the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and the thousands of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, he claimed.<\/p>\n
The Israeli military confirmed an infiltration had occurred in several locations near the\u00a0Gaza\u00a0border in southern Israel. It ordered residents to remain indoors.<\/p>\n
Don’t miss… <\/strong> We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n In a statement, it said: \u201cThe military declares a state of war alert. In the last hour, the Hamas terrorist organisation had begun a massive shooting of rockets from the\u00a0Gaza\u00a0Strip into Israeli territory, and terrorists infiltrated into Israeli territory in a number of different locations.\u201d<\/p>\n Hamas \u201cwill face the consequences and responsibility\u201d, the statement added. Prime Minister\u00a0Benjamin Netanyahu\u00a0and top security officials were convening for an emergency meeting.<\/p>\n Israel has built a huge fence along the\u00a0Gaza\u00a0border meant to prevent infiltrations. It goes deep underground and is equipped with cameras, high-tech sensors and sensitive listening technology. The infiltration marked a major accomplishment – and escalation – by Hamas.<\/p>\n The sound of outgoing rockets could be heard in\u00a0Gaza\u00a0and sirens wailed as far away as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem during an early morning barrage that lasted for over two hours. Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue agency said a 70-year-old woman was critically injured when a rocket hit a building in southern Israel. Elsewhere, a 20-year-old man was moderately injured by rocket shrapnel, it said.<\/p>\n As the rocket attacks continued throughout southern and central Israel, millions of Israelis were instructed to stay near bomb shelters in their homes and apartment buildings. The army said residents next to\u00a0Gaza\u00a0should stay in their homes due to the \u201csecurity incident\u201d.<\/p>\n The launches came after weeks of in heavy fighting in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.<\/p>\n Israel has maintained a blockade over\u00a0Gaza\u00a0since Hamas, an Islamic militant group that opposes Israel, seized control of the territory in 2007, with four wars foughtsince then. There have also been multiple rounds of smaller fighting between Israel and Hamas and other smaller militant groups based in\u00a0Gaza.<\/p>\n The blockade, which restricts the movement of people and goods in and out of\u00a0Gaza, has devastated the territory’s economy. Israel says the blockade is needed to keep militant groups from building up their arsenals. The Palestinians say the closure amounts to collective punishment.<\/p>\n The rocket fire comes during a period of\u00a0heavy fighting in the West Bank, where almost 200 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli military raids this year. Israel says the raids are aimed at militants, but stone-throwing protesters and people uninvolved in the violence have also been killed. Palestinian attacks on Israeli targets have killed more than 30 people.<\/p>\n The tensions have also spread to\u00a0Gaza, where Hamas-linked activists held violent demonstrations along the Israeli border in recent weeks. Those demonstrations were halted\u00a0in late September after international mediation.<\/p>\n
American tourist smashes Roman statues in ‘blasphemous’ rampage at Israel Museum[PICTURES] <\/strong>
Six Palestinians dead after Israeli military actions in West Bank and Gaza[INSIGHT] <\/strong>
Israeli settler attacks prompt fears of escalation in Palestine[ANALYSIS] <\/strong><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/78\/590x\/secondary\/Israel-4999045.jpg?r=1696662561405\")
<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/78\/590x\/secondary\/Israel-Gaza-4999046.jpg?r=1696662561441\")
<\/p>\n