Watch: Israel Declares ‘State Of War’ After Over 5,000 Rockets Fired From Gaza

New Delhi: Israel has declared a ‘state of war’ after a fierce rocket attack from the blockaded Gaza strip, in what the Hamas militants called was only their “first strike”. Over 5,000 rockets pierced the sky towards Israel as loud sirens blared across the country on this festive holiday morning. A woman was killed in this attack.

The Israeli military said “a number of terrorists have infiltrated into Israeli territory”. It said it was striking targets in the Gaza Strip as air raid sirens were sounded in Jerusalem, news agency AP reported.

🇮🇱 “𝗜𝘀𝗿𝗮𝗲𝗹 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸”

Terrorists are firing rockets at communities across southern and central Israel.

Heavy rocket barrage launched from Gaza toward Israel — rocket alert sirens sound throughout the south and center of the country including Tel Aviv.… pic.twitter.com/8DRvAG7YAP

— Noor Dahri – نور ڈاہری ‎ 🇬🇧 (@dahrinoor2) October 7, 2023

The country’s defence forces also alerted an alleged infiltration by Hamas militants, considered terrorists in Israel. Paragliders were used in the attack, showed the visuals from Israel.

BREAKING: Palestinian infiltrator using glider to get into Israel https://t.co/p7LxIXhtCR

— The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) October 7, 2023

This marks yet another big escalation in geopolitics in recent years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Multiple impacts in southern Israel. pic.twitter.com/PC5z5y5WZi

— Trey Yingst (@TreyYingst) October 7, 2023

Amateur videos posted on social media showed what appeared to be uniformed gunmen inside the Israeli border town of Sderot. The sound of gunfire could be heard in the videos, whose authenticity could not immediately be verified.

Sounds of outgoing rockets whooshing through the air could be heard in Gaza and sirens could be heard as far away as Tel Aviv, some 70 kilometres to the north, during the early morning barrage that lasted more than 30 minutes.