A Hamas commander said thousands of rockets had been launched as Israel’s military said it was on a war footing.
Gunmen from the Palestinian Hamas group appeared to have infiltrated Israel in an attack which also included intense rocket fire from the Gaza Strip.
Video shows the aftermath of the strikes and warning sirens across the south and center of the country, including in Jerusalem.
Social-media footage appeared to show clashes in the streets and gunmen in Jeeps roaming the countryside. Palestinian media reported that fighters had taken some Israelis captive, and Hamas media circulated video footage apparently showing a destroyed Israeli tank.
One Israeli woman was killed, according to Israeli emergency services, as ambulance crews were deployed around the Gaza Strip where Israel’s military said it was operating, without giving further details, Reuters reported.
