On Saturday morning, armed Palestinian factions launched approximately 5,000 rockets from the Gaza Strip towards Israel, announcing the beginning of "Al-Aqsa Flood," with the Islamic Jihad movement joining in and calling on Lebanon and Arab countries for support. For the first time, Palestinian factions' vehicles were seen in the streets of settlements, with reports of around 35 soldiers being captured. The casualties from the confrontations are substantial, likely exceeding a hundred, according to Israeli media. An indescribable scene was observed of Hamas fighters engaging at close range with occupation forces inside one of the settlements.
Following Netanyahu's call for an urgent meeting, the Israeli army issued a statement declaring a state of war readiness, especially since about a hundred militants entered 4 settlements, and there were reports of hostages being taken in an Israeli settlement. Airstrikes targeted Gaza in response to the rocket attack. The Israeli Ministry of Defense announced the calling up of reserve soldiers, indicating an escalation in confrontations, as well as declaring a state of emergency extending up to 80 kilometers from Gaza settlements. The Israeli army evacuated air bases near which Hamas elements were moving, particularly after "Al-Qassam" announced its control over the kibbutz and the Karem Abu Salem military site east of Rafah in southern Gaza.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog emphasized that "the country is facing difficult hours," urging everyone to "comply with the directives of the home front command, show mutual support, and remain steadfast." The Israeli army announced that sirens sounded around six in the morning in areas near Gaza and Tel Aviv, warning of a rocket attack.
According to Reuters, explosions were heard in areas surrounding Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, where sirens rang in 160 areas. Military correspondent Tal Lev Ram reported that the rocket fire from Gaza signaled a state of war declared by Hamas, highlighting that the manner of the escalation was unusual compared to previous events. In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced an urgent meeting would take place in the coming hours to discuss developments and how to respond to the rockets. The Israeli army spokesman advised settlers to head to shelters and stay there.
Muhammad Deif, the commander of Al-Qassam Brigades, announced the start of the "Al-Aqsa Flood" operation, stating, "We have decided to put an end to Israeli violations. Oh our people in the West Bank, organize your operations against the settlements and drive out the occupier, and oh our people in Jerusalem, take action and ignite the ground beneath the feet of the occupation, and our people in the occupied territories in the Negev, Galilee, and Triangle, move and confront the occupier everywhere." He said, "Today is the day of the great battle to end the last occupation on Earth," referring to the launch of five thousand rockets.
Emergency services reported that an Israeli woman was killed, while rescue teams were deployed in areas surrounding Gaza, and sirens were heard throughout Israel and Jerusalem. Israeli media reported that militants opened fire on passersby in the town of Sderot in southern Israel, with footage circulating on social media showing clashes in the streets. The head of the regional council in the Sha'ar HaNegrev area was also reported killed by Palestinian gunmen, according to Israeli sources.
The Israeli army stated, "A number of terrorists infiltrated Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip," adding that residents of the area surrounding Gaza were advised to stay in their homes. It continued, "The Israeli defense forces will defend Israeli civilians, and the Hamas terrorist organization will pay a heavy price for its actions." Channel 14 revealed that the commander of the police in the southern region was injured by gunfire from the attackers in the settlement of Sderot. Channel 12 reported the evacuation of about 100 injured individuals to Soroka Hospital, some in critical condition.
According to media sources in Gaza, Hamas is engaging with the Israeli army at several border points of the Strip. The Israeli army radio stated that the infiltration attempt required "evacuating the homes of settlers." On social media, there are reports of militants entering Sderot and engaging in clashes with the Israeli army, supported by circulating videos. Additionally, there is widely circulated video footage of airdrops via paragliders towards the settlements and news of Israeli soldiers being captured. Images of several bodies lying on the roads in the settlements have also surfaced.
Among the surprises of today's Palestinian attack was the militants' control of an Israeli tank and the capture of soldiers. The tank was set on fire, and all soldiers inside were kidnapped. A widely circulating video showed settlers fleeing from Ben Gurion Airport after the alarms sounded, leading to the evacuation of air bases.
