The Palestinian armed group Hamas has launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel in the most serious escalation since Israel and Hamas fought an 11-day war in 2021, a media report said. Hamas said it had fired 5,000 rockets, while Israel confirmed that the group’s fighters had entered its territory.

Daniel Hagari, an Israeli army spokesman, said that the group attacked from land, sea and air. The Israeli army also said it launched “Operation Iron Swords” against the Hamas group in the Gaza Strip, Al Jazeera reported. The early-morning attacks occurred on Simchat Torah, a holiday which falls towards the conclusion of the weeklong Jewish festival known as Sukkot, or the Feast of Tabernacles.