Gaza Fires Thousands Of Rockets To Israel: Hamas Launches "Operation Al Aqsa Flood"
Hamas, Palestinian political organisation that is running the Gaza strip, is currently carrying out an operation against Israel in the widest scale, in response to the recent actions by Israel in Aqsa mosque.
Ismail Haniya, the head of Hamas’ political bureau, said: “We are waging a battle of honour, resistance and dignity to defend Al-Aqsa, under the title that was announced by Brother Commander-in-Chief Abu Khaled Al-Deif, “Al-Aqsa Flood”.
He added that the “flood” began in Gaza and will extend to the West Bank and abroad, “and every place where our people and nation are present.”
Hamas has initiated a major offensive against Israel, dubbed “Operation Al Aqsa Flood,” marking one of the most significant escalations in decades. The situation has rapidly deteriorated, with exchanges of fire, infiltrations, and reports of hostages, sparking concerns of a widening conflict in the region.
The operation began when Hamas militants fired what they claim to be thousands of rockets into Israeli territory, causing several casualties and widespread panic among Israeli civilians. Israeli military radio has reported that Palestinian fighters from Gaza have managed to “infiltrate” Israel, a development that has raised serious security concerns.
Dramatic images have emerged, depicting armed men in vehicles inside Israeli territory and others paragliding across the border into Israel. There are also video footages showing Palestinian fighters taking Israeli hostage and pro-Palestine local media have reported the number of hostages are more than 35.
In response to the escalating situation, the Israeli army has urged residents living near the border with Gaza to remain indoors, emphasizing the need for safety precautions. Israel”s defense minister has authorized the call-up of military reservists, a sign of the seriousness with which the Israeli government is treating the situation.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, the commander of Hamas” military wing has called on armed groups in Lebanon to join the fight against Israel, raising concerns of the conflict spreading further across the region.
Ismail Haniya detailed the aims of the offensive in a detailed statement as reported by Al Jazeera:
“The enemy besieging Gaza has planned to surprise it and escalate the aggression against our people in the Gaza Strip, in addition to the settlement and aggression that continues every moment in the West Bank, which seeks to uproot our people and expel them from their land, and the crimes of the occupation against our people in the 1948s, as it stands behind all the killing and assassination operations there, and the occupation’s continuation of detaining our prisoners for decades, and reneging on agreements when he re-arrested those liberated from the swap deal.”
