Israel Declares War Preparedness As Hamas Fires 5,000 Rockets In “First Strike”

New Delhi: One person was killed and at least three injured as Israel Defence Force declared a state of war after dozens of rockets were fired from the blockaded Gaza Strip towards Israel on Saturday. A report by news agency AFP stated that sirens warning of incoming fire blared in Israel.

Hamas Armed Wing said that over 5,000 rockets were fired as ‘Operation Al-Aqsa Flood’ began. An Israel Defense Force (IDF) soldier has reportedly been kidnapped. Hostage situations have been reported in Southern Israel.

The country’s defence forces also alerted an alleged infiltration by Hamas militants, who are considered terrorists in Israel. Paragliders were also used in the attack. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said he will shortly convene a meeting of security chiefs. Hamas will pay a heavy price for its actions, his government has asserted, NDTV reported.

Israel has a widely known but undeclared nuclear program. As of January, Israel was believed to possess a stockpile of around 90 nuclear warheads, according to the Stockholm Internation Peace Research Institute.

Israel has also never signed the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty. The country, manufactures, deploys and even exports a vast range of technologically advanced ballistic missile, cruise missile and other missile defence systems.