Israel launches military operation in Gaza Strip

The Israeli army has launched a military operation in the Gaza Strip in response to rocket attacks on its territory. Before that, the army declared a state of alert, but Israeli media called what happened a real war.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant announced a mass call-up of reservists, Kommersant reports.

The shelling of Israel from the Gaza Strip began around 6:30 a.m. and has not stopped until now. Alarms were sounded in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. There are reports of one fatality.

There are also reports of Palestinian terrorists infiltrating Israeli population centres in the south of the country near the Gaza Strip. This includes the town of Sderot - a terrorist squad has infiltrated the town's police station and an exchange of fire is underway. The army confirms the information about the infiltration.

Responsibility for launching the operation against Israel was taken by Hamas, which has refrained from engaging in direct confrontation with Israel for the past couple of years. The head of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades (the military wing of Hamas), Mohammed al-Deif, announced the beginning of a military operation, the purpose of which is stated to be the establishment of a Palestinian state. He also stated that 5,000 rockets and missiles were fired at Israel.