High tension between Gaza and Israel, after a surprise attack began in the Strip in the morning and armed militiamen entered Israeli territory. The head of Hamas’ military branch in Gaza, Mohammad Deif, announced the start of operation “Flood al-Aqsa”. “We warned the Zionist enemy several times, but we always received refusals,” he said. The Israeli army declared a “state of war alert”. Rocket launches were launched from Gaza, partially intercepted by Israeli Iron Dome defense batteries. From what is filtered, a 70-year-old woman would have died. Missile warning sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and other areas of central and southern Israel. A meeting is scheduled between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, with military and security officials.
As mentioned, the head of Hamas’s military branch in Gaza, Mohammad Deif, announced the start of the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation, with rocket launches and the entry of armed militiamen from the Strip into Israel. He explained that the operation represents a reaction “to the desecration of the holy sites in Jerusalem” and Israel’s continued refusal to “release our prisoners.” He specified that the militiamen were under orders “not to kill women and children” and called on all Palestinians to join the armed struggle. “The enemy is weaker than you think,” he said. And again: “This is the day of the great revolution”. The text was released on the web by Hamas which, as in the past, only showed the darkened profile of Deif’s face.
An Israeli military spokesman advised citizens in southern and central Israel to “remain in protected areas and follow instructions from the Internal Command Center.” The Israeli Emergency Services (Magen David Adom) reported that a 70-year-old woman who was injured by a direct hit from a rocket in the Gederot area near Ashkelon lost her life. According to the same source, there are also 15 injured. “Several terrorists entered Israeli territory from Gaza. The inhabitants of the area must remain in their homes,” said the Israeli military spokesman.
Source: IL Tempo

John Cameron is a journalist at The Nation View specializing in world news and current events, particularly in international politics and diplomacy. With expertise in international relations, he covers a range of topics including conflicts, politics and economic trends.