One person was killed after over 5,000 rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip into Israel on Saturday morning, as sirens blared in Israel. Eye witnesses saw rockets being intercepted, moments after sirens blared across the city. As Hamas's armed wing claimed the attack, which it called "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood", the Israeli army sounded alarms and urged the people to seek shelter. "We decided to put an end to all the crimes of the occupation (Israel), their time for rampaging without being held accountable is over," the group having said. "We announce Operation Al-Aqsa Flood and we fired, in the first strike of 20 minutes, more than 5,000 rockets."

The Israeli army sounded alarms across the country's south and central areas for over an hour, and urged people to remain close to bomb shelters. The Israeli military also said "a number of terrorists have infiltrated into Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip," without providing further information. An Israeli woman lost her life in the attack, and 15 others were injured, as per medics. The Magen David Adom emergency services claimed a woman in her 60s was killed "due to a direct hit". It also said a 70-year-old woman was in critical condition and another person trapped after a rocket hit a building in central Israel.

 In a separate incident, a 20-year-old man suffered moderate injuries from shrapnel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced a security meeting to address the escalating violence. The conflict is rooted in the longstanding Israeli blockade of Gaza since 2007 when Hamas seized power. The region has witnessed devastating wars, with the latest escalation following heightened tensions in September. During that period, Israel closed the border to Gazan workers for two weeks, leading to protests and clashes. Critics denounced the border closure as collective punishment against Palestinian workers. The situation briefly calmed when the border reopened on September 28, offering hope for the 2.3 million people in Gaza. However, the recent rocket fire reignited the conflict.

This year alone, the toll includes at least 247 Palestinians, 32 Israelis, and two foreigners. Most casualties occurred in the West Bank, occupied by Israel since the 1967 Arab-Israeli conflict. The West Bank has witnessed increased army raids, Palestinian attacks on Israelis, and settler violence against Palestinians and their property. The presence of far-right Israeli ministers in illegal settlements further complicates the situation under international law.

 
Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)