At least 161 Palestinians killed and 1,000 injured in Israeli retaliation air strikes
Meanwhile at least 40 Israelis have been killed by Palestinian militants.
At least 161 people have been killed and 1,000 injured after Israel launched strikes on Gaza, according to Palestinian officials.
The strikes were launched in response to a surprise attack by Palestinian militants, killing at least 40 Israelis and leaving 545 injured.
Gunmen from the Islamist group Hamas infiltrated the Gaza Strip, to the south of the country, on Saturday morning.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have hit back by striking targets in Gaza and a call-up for military reserve forces has been approved.
Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: ‘We are at war and we will win.’
The Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant warned that Hamas will ‘pay a heavy price’ for their attack and said: ‘Hamas has made a grave mistake this morning and launched a war against the state of Israel.
‘IDF troops are fighting against the enemy at every location.’
Footage emerging from the area shows Israeli firefighters tackling flames in the city of Ashkelon, as thick plumes of smoke rose from charred out vehicles.
Explosions have also been reported in and around Tel Aviv, while Israeli fighter jets are attacking Hamas forces in Gaza.
A video from Gaza showed a crowd of Palestinian men dancing around and on top of an Israeli tank that was on fire.
Salah Arouri, an exiled Hamas leader, said the operation was a response ‘to the crimes of the occupation’.
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