Dozens of rockets were fired at Israel early on Saturday, October 7, from the Gaza Strip. The south and center of the country, including Tel Aviv, were targeted. An air raid alert was announced in a number of cities and the air defense system was activated. Damage to residential buildings has been reported. According to initial reports, one person was killed and several were injured as a result of the shelling.
According to the press service of the Israeli Army, an unknown number of terrorists with firearms entered the Gaza Strip into the border areas of the country. Residents are asked to remain in their homes.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will hold an operational meeting with the leadership of the security system in the coming hours, his office said.
On Saturday, Israel celebrates the holiday of Simchat Torah according to the Jewish calendar. On the eve of the holiday, border crossings on the West Bank and on the border with Gaza were closed.
The commander of the military wing of the Palestinian Islamist organization Hamas, Mohammed Deif, announced the start of a military operation against Israel after the attacks. Hamas is determined to put an end to Israeli "crimes," he said.
In turn, the Israel Defense Forces said that Hamas "will pay a very high price" for its attack.
