Israel Declares “State of War” Readiness After Rockets Hit Jerusalem And Other Cities (Developing Story)
By Worthy News’ George Whitten and Stefan J. Bos.
JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Israel’s military declared a “state of readiness for war” on the Jewish day of rest, the Shabbat, as a deadly barrage of rockets fired from Gaza slammed into southern and central Israel on Saturday morning, including in Jerusalem, where sirens wailed at around 8:15 a.m. local time.
At least one rocket fired from Gaza directly hit a building in the Gederot Regional Council, killing a woman in her 60s, according to rescue agency Magen David Adom, quoted by Israeli media.
Magen David Adom earlier said a 70-year-old woman was critically injured when a rocket hit a building in southern Israel. Elsewhere, a 20-year-old man was moderately wounded by rocket shrapnel, the agency added.
Separately, dozens of Palestinian militants reportedly entered Israel from the Gaza Strip in what appeared to be well-planned coordinated attacks against the Jewish nation.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) suggested a counter-offensive was underway from Israel in or towards Gaza.
“The IDF declares a state of readiness for war,” the army said in a statement. “There has been widespread rocket fire into Israeli territory from Gaza, and terrorists have infiltrated Israeli territory through various entry points.”
The IDF ordered millions to stay indoors near bombing shelters. “Residents in the south and center of the country are required to be in close proximity to protected areas, and those in the Gaza periphery should remain within a secure space.”
MASSIVE BLASTS
The announcement came just over an hour after militants in Gaza began firing dozens of rockets into Israel on the Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest.
Worthy News obtained footage showing several cars on fire near an apartment complex in the coastal city of Ashkelon on the Mediterranean coast, 50 kilometers (30 miles) south of Tel Aviv.
Other footage showed clouds illuminated by apparently incoming rockets towards Tel Aviv on Saturday.
The sound of outgoing rockets whooshing through the air could be heard in Gaza, and sirens wailed as far away as Tel Aviv, some 70 kilometers (40 miles) to the north, witnesses said. The early morning barrage lasted more than 30 minutes, according to several sources.
As details of the attacks emerged, Israeli media reported that at least up to 50 militants managed to enter Israel. It was not immediately clear what kind of weapons or explosives they were carrying.
Militant group Hamas said the leader of its military wing, Mohammed Deif, planned to make an announcement later Saturday.
(This is a rapidly developing BREAKING NEWS update; stay with Worthy News for more details).