Targets: Hamas said they fired rockets at the Israeli cities of Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa. Israeli authorities reported a rocket striking the city of Hadera and said that four Hamas gunmen were killed in Zakim, after they crossed the Gaza border
Operation Protective Edge: Israeli airstrikes rain down on Gaza - but Hamas fires rockets at string of cities as 40,000 reservists are called up and tanks mass on border
- Israel launches 'Operation Protective Edge' and strikes targets in Gaza after Hamas rocket attacks were stepped up
- Air raid sirens sounded across Israel as Hamas said it was targeting Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa
- People evacuated Israel's Mediterranean beaches, running for shelter in nearby hotels
- Israeli military bombs 50 sites in Gaza, including homes, in air strikes and naval attacks as part of new offensive
- Troops have also been mobilised for possible ground invasion aimed at stopping recent barrage of rocket attacks
- Attacks by Israel come after cabinet approved 'hardening' of stance against Hamas as tanks mass on border
- Nearly 300 rockets and mortars have been fired at Israel in recent weeks, including barrage of 80 projectiles yesterday
- Tensions mounting after killing of Palestinian boy, 16, in suspected revenge attack for deaths of three Israeli youths
Air raid sirens were
sounded across Israel last night as the country's armed forces stepped
up their offensive in the Gaza Strip. A series of explosions hit
Jerusalem as apparent rocket attacks were carried out by Hamas which has
seen its territory in Gaza pounded by airstrikes throughout the day.
On
Tuesday night the group said it had launched rocket attacks against
three Israeli cities - Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa - but authorities
said there had been no casualties. Israeli
officials said a rocket had landed in Hadera,100km (60 miles) from Gaza
- further into the country than had previously been reached - and
threatened to invade if the attacks did not stop.
Its
military have called the massive display of force in the air Operation
Protective Edge, and are calling up reservists for a potential land
invasion of parts of the Gaza Strip, a senior officer said. Up to 40,000
would be called into active duty, while tanks are being moved to the
border with Gaza.
A photo taken from the southern Israeli border
shows flames blazing in the Gaza Strip. Israeli forces move closer to
the border in anticipation of a ground invasion
Among the 50 sites in the Gaza Strip the army
said it targeted early today were four houses it said were 'activity
sites' belonging to Hamas militants
Thick smoke covers the Gaza Strip following a day of Israeli airstrikes
The immediate aftermath of an Israeli airstrike
on Rafah, in the south of the Gaza Strip, after the start of Operation
Protective Edge.
Air
raid sirens in the cities prompted people to flee Israel's
Mediterranean beaches and take shelter in nearby hotels. On one of the
beaches, Zikim, Israeli troops killed four Hamas gunmen who had crossed
the Gaza border, according to officials.
The Israeli army also used its Iron Dome missile defence system to bring down rockets fired by Hamas at Israeli territory.
The
hi-tech system intercepts rockets with its own missiles, before they
can land in populated areas and explode, It has been credited with
saving dozens of Israeli lives when it has previously been used.
An 'Iron Dome' launcher fires an interceptor
rocket in southern Israel. Over 15 rockets were fired by Hamas towards
Israel and most of were intercepted, say authorities
Israeli forces launch a counter attack, firing a rocket from their anti-missile system in Ashdod, in southern Israel
An interceptor rocket is fired from southern Israel. One Hamas rocket landed in the Jerusalem area, Israeli authorities reported
A rocket is fired from Gaza City towards Israel
following a day of strikes in the Hamas-controlled region. The group
said it targeted Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa
People take shelter in a hotel basement in Tel
Aviv as air raid sirens drive Israelis indoors. Hamas took credit for
rockets fired towards the city
Air raid sirens prompted people to evacuate Israel's Mediterranean beaches, taking shelter in nearby hotels
Tourists take cover against the wall of a hotel
as air raid sirens sound in Tel Aviv, marking the deepest attack into
Israel by Palestinian forces
Earlier in the day, the Israeli
military launched what could be a long-term offensive, striking more
than 100 sites and mobilising 40,000 troops for a possible ground
invasion aimed at stopping a heavy barrage of rocket attacks against
Israel.
At least 23
Palestinians, including five children, were killed in the air and sea
attacks - thought to be the heaviest since a similar Israeli offensive
in November 2012 - Palestinian officials said.
The Israeli military said the open-ended
operation aims to deliver a blow against the Islamic Hamas group, and
end the rocket fire that has reached deeper into Israel.
Israeli
officials said the government had authorized the army to mobilize an
additional 40,000 troops, if needed, for the operation. The army said
there were no immediate plans to call up the troops but that they would
be activated depending on operational needs. Israel has already
mobilized about 1,500 reservists.
Israel said it wants to quell the rocket fire which
has intensified in recent weeks amid tensions over the killing of three
Israeli teenagers and the apparent revenge killing of a Palestinian
teenager.
Nearly 300
rockets and mortars have been fired at Israel in recent weeks, including
a barrage of about 80 projectiles yesterday alone, the military said.
Israel has responded with dozens of airstrikes. Eight Palestinian militants were killed yesterday.
Israel has responded with dozens of airstrikes. Eight Palestinian militants were killed yesterday.
It had signalled it would not launch a larger offensive if the militant group Hamas ceased the rocket fire.
Smoke rises from the Gaza Strip after an Israeli
strike. Beaches were evacuated in Israel after air raid sirens
signalled a Palestinian attack
Plumes of smoke rise above the skyline of the
Gaza Strip, indicating sites targeted by Israeli air strikes during
their assault on Tuesday
Massing: The Israeli army has begun building up
forces on the border with Gaza, including tanks, after the cabinet
approved a stronger stance against the Islamists
An Israeli tank moves towards the country's border with the Gaza Strip, as forces prepare for a possible ground invasion
Israeli soldiers take cover near an Iron Dome missile defense system on Tuesday
Israeli combat helicopters fly above the Gaza border line near Ashkelon
A blast shakes the Gaza Strip
after an attack by Israeli forces. Speaking on the strikes, an Israeli
cabinet minister said 'It won't end in a day and it won't end in two
days'
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