A barrage of rockets was fired into southern and central Israel on Saturday morning as Hamas terrorists invaded the country and seized towns in southern Israel.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier that Israel is at war. “As of this morning, the state of Israel is at war,” he said.

44 dead and 700 injured

About 44 people are dead, according to Israel’s Magen David Adom national emergency medical service, and more than 700 are injured.

Among them, Ofir Liebstein, an Israeli local government official, was killed in an exchange of fire with terrorists. According to the Jerusalem Post, Yossi Keren is taking his place.

A 60-year-old woman was killed when a rocket hit a building in Gederot Regional Council. The names and identities of the other victims have not yet been released, the report said.

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161 Palestinians dead and 931 injured

The Palestinian Ministry of Health reports 161 dead and 931 wounded in the initial tally of Israeli shelling of the Gaza Strip.

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More than 2,200 rockets were fired, the Israel Defense Forces said. Sirens sounded many times in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and southern Israel. Dozens of vehicles also caught fire in the city.

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In Ramla, according to the Jerusalem Post, four civilians who were trapped under a damaged building were rescued by Israel Fire and Rescue Service personnel.

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Shelters were opened all over the country. Many parts of Ashkelon and the surrounding area were without electricity.

Dozens of IDF warplanes are currently striking multiple targets belonging to the terrorist organization Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

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“We urge residents to stay in protected areas, avoid approaching the scenes and avoid touching rocket debris that may contain explosives or similar hazards,” Israeli police said.

“The public is asked to follow instructions to stay close to protected areas and residents of the Gaza Strip are asked to stay indoors,” the army said.

In a video he posted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on platform X he said that “we are at war” and emphasized that “the enemy will pay a price that has never been seen before”.

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Civilians run for their lives

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Today’s episode was the most serious since the 10-day war between Israel and Hamas in 2021, with Israeli media reporting clashes between Palestinian militant groups and security forces in towns in southern Israel.

Mohammed Deif, a senior Hamas military commander, announcing the launch of the operation on Hamas media, calling on Palestinians everywhere to fight. “This is the day of the greatest battle to end the last occupation on earth,” he said, adding that 5,000 rockets were fired in just 20 minutes.

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The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) they said that Hamas had “launched a massive rocket launch from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory” and that militants had entered Israeli territory in “various locations”. The statement said the chief of staff was conducting an “assessment of the situation” and that Hamas “will face the consequences and responsibility for these events.”

The IDF released footage of some of its strikes earlier today on Hamas targets. They say they have attacked 17 military installations and four Hamas operational offices so far.

Israel police estimate there are 60 militants inside the country at the moment, reports Haaretz. The battles are on.

Terrorists with the Al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas have reportedly Captured an Israeli Military Base near the Border with Gaza. pic.twitter.com/60EQQAuoQT

Israeli media reported that gunmen opened fire on passers-by in the southern Israeli city of Sderot, while videos circulating on social media appeared to show show collisions on city streets as well as armed men on jeeps moving in the countryside.

Palestinian media also reported that a number of Israelis were taken prisoner by militants.

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In Gaza, citizens rushed to stock up on essential items in anticipation of the conflict lasting days, while some fled their homes and rushed to shelters. Hamas military commander Mohammed Dayef announced the start of the operation on Hamas media calling on Palestinians everywhere to fight.

“This is the day of the biggest battle to end the last occupation on earth,” he said, adding that 5,000 rockets were fired.

The last flare-up of tension between Israel and Hamas was the ten-day war in 2021.