Hamas have launched up to 5,000 rockets at Israel from Gaza as gunmen infiltrated towns across the south of the country in a surprise attack they are calling Operation Al-Aqsa Storm.
At least 40 people have died and hundreds are wounded, while the gunmen appear to have taken an unknown number of hostages. The attack appears to have caught out Israeli intelligence. While the thousands of rockets have undoubtedly caused much destruction, they appear to have been a diversion while Hamas main military efforts have been concentrated on the communities on the border with Gaza. House to house battles are ongoing.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to retaliate and warned that Hamas “will pay a price the type of which it has never known”
