Israel saw unprecedented bloodshed beginning in the morning of a Jewish holiday, as a barrage of rockets slammed into southern and central Israel on Saturday morning after Hamas launched an attack, the Times of Israel reported.
In a major escalation on Saturday, Hamas launched a "surprise attack" on Israel, firing a barrage of rockets into the southern and central parts of the country.
More than 24 hours after Hamas launched rocket attacks followed by an unprecedented ground assault, firefights between forces and terrorists were ongoing in Kfar Aza, close to the Gaza border. The IDF was attempting to neutralise all terrorists still present.
After cancelling a concert and spending several hours in Tel Aviv, American singer-songwriter Bruno Mars left Israel, citing the terror attacks on the country by terrorist group Hamas and the ongoing counter-offensive.
Even as Israel carried out retaliatory air raids into Hamas hideouts after the rocket attacks and ground assault left over 300 dead and more than 1,000 injured, hackers targeted the country's leading and best-selling English newspaper with multiple cyberattacks.
Sri Lanka on Sunday expressed its deep concern over the deadliest escalation of violence between Israel and Palestine after Hamas launched a massive rocket barrage and ground, air, and sea offensive against Israel.
Even as the toll from the Hamas rocket fire and ground assault mounted, Israel declared that was "at war" with the militant outfit and launched airstrikes in Gaza, vowing to inflict an "unprecedented price."
At least 232 people were killed in the Palestinian enclave of Gaza on Sunday as Israel carried out retaliatory strikes following the Hamas rocket fire and the unprecedented ground assault in the Middle Eastern country, Al Jazeera reported.
As the toll from the Hamas rocket fire and ground assault soared past 300, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday vowed to turn all known hideouts of the militant outfit into "rubble".
A major upheaval took place in the Middle East on Saturday, when the Hamas terror group launched a "surprise attack", firing a barrage of rockets into southern and central Israel.
"I vehemently condemn this morning's multi-front assault against Israeli towns and cities near the Gaza Strip, and barrage of rockets reaching across central Israel by Hamas militants," said Wennesland.