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Israel: Gunmen from Gaza kill at least 22 in major attack | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Watch: Rockets launched from Gaza streak across sky | Watch: Rockets launched from Gaza streak across sky |
Watch: Rockets launched from Gaza streak across sky | Watch: Rockets launched from Gaza streak across sky |
At least 22 people have been killed in Israel after a major surprise attack with militants crossing into Israel from Gaza during heavy rocket fire. | |
There are unconfirmed reports that a number of Israelis have been taken captive back into Gaza. | |
Israel has launched waves of air strikes on targets in Gaza in response. | |
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is "at war" has vowed that Hamas, Gaza's rulers, will "pay a price it has never known". | |
The militants crossed the perimeter fence just after dawn, as barrages of rockets were launched from Gaza. | The militants crossed the perimeter fence just after dawn, as barrages of rockets were launched from Gaza. |
The Israeli military has said that dozens of fighter jets are carrying out air strikes on Hamas sites in Gaza, and that it has mobilised tens of thousands of reservists. | |
At least one Palestinian has been killed in the strikes, local health officials say. | At least one Palestinian has been killed in the strikes, local health officials say. |
The rocket barrages from Gaza began just after dawn on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath and the day of the festival of Simchat Torah. | |
As sirens sounded across Israel, the IDF announced that "terrorists" had infiltrated Israeli territory "in a number of different locations". | As sirens sounded across Israel, the IDF announced that "terrorists" had infiltrated Israeli territory "in a number of different locations". |
It told civilians in southern and central areas to stay next to shelters, and inside shelters in the area surrounding Gaza. | It told civilians in southern and central areas to stay next to shelters, and inside shelters in the area surrounding Gaza. |
Footage posted online appeared to show a group of heavily armed Palestinian militants dressed in black fatigues driving around Sderot in a pick-up truck. | Footage posted online appeared to show a group of heavily armed Palestinian militants dressed in black fatigues driving around Sderot in a pick-up truck. |
In one video, the same militants seemed to be exchanging fire with Israeli forces on the streets of the town, which is only 1.6km (1 mile) from Gaza. | In one video, the same militants seemed to be exchanging fire with Israeli forces on the streets of the town, which is only 1.6km (1 mile) from Gaza. |
There are also unconfirmed reports in the Palestinian media that a number of Israelis have been taken captive by militants and footage circulating of Palestinians in Gaza driving Israeli military vehicles. | There are also unconfirmed reports in the Palestinian media that a number of Israelis have been taken captive by militants and footage circulating of Palestinians in Gaza driving Israeli military vehicles. |
Palestinians gathered near an Israeli tank that was set alight on the Israel-Gaza perimeter fence | Palestinians gathered near an Israeli tank that was set alight on the Israel-Gaza perimeter fence |
Some 545 Israelis have been wounded in the Hamas attacks, Israel's health ministry says. | |
But the leader of one regional council in southern Israel, Ofir Liebstein, was killed in an exchange of fire with militants when he went to defend his community. | |
The rocket barrages meanwhile continued throughout Saturday morning, with Israeli media reporting that more than 2,500 projectiles had so far been launched towards Israel. | The rocket barrages meanwhile continued throughout Saturday morning, with Israeli media reporting that more than 2,500 projectiles had so far been launched towards Israel. |
Hospitals in the southern city of Ashkelon and central city of Beer Sheva are treating casualties. | |
"Citizens of Israel we are at war, not an operation, not an escalation, a war," Prime Minister Netanyahu said in a statement. "This morning Hamas launched a murderous surprise attack against the state of Israel and its citizens." | |
"I convened the heads of the security system, first of all I instructed to cleanse the settlements of the terrorists who had infiltrated - this operation is being carried out during these hours." | "I convened the heads of the security system, first of all I instructed to cleanse the settlements of the terrorists who had infiltrated - this operation is being carried out during these hours." |
"At the same time, I ordered an extensive reserve mobilisation and a retaliatory war with a strength and scope that the enemy has never known." | |
A senior Hamas military commander announced the start of the operation in a broadcast on Hamas media, calling on Palestinians everywhere to fight. | A senior Hamas military commander announced the start of the operation in a broadcast on Hamas media, calling on Palestinians everywhere to fight. |
"This is the day of the greatest battle to end the last occupation on Earth," Mohammed Deif said. | "This is the day of the greatest battle to end the last occupation on Earth," Mohammed Deif said. |
Related Topics | Related Topics |
Israel | Israel |
Gaza | Gaza |