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Israel: "We are at war" says PM following Hamas rocket attacks
Image source, Getty Images
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the country is "at war" after an attack by Islamist group Hamas.
Fighting, which started on Saturday morning, has continued overnight.
Dozens of armed people from Hamas - the Palestinian militant group that rules Gaza - crossed the border on Saturday into Israel from Gaza in a surprise attack.
Thousands of rockets were launched toward Israel, setting off air raid sirens across the country.
Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed that Hamas will "pay a price it has never known".
The Israeli military said it has begun striking targets in the Gaza strip in response "to the barrages of rockets".
What's happened?
Image source, Reuters
The Hamas militants crossed the perimeter fence just after dawn as a number of rockets were fired from Gaza.
A senior commander from Hamas claims thousands of rockets were launched from Gaza into Israel.
Mohammed Deif, a senior commander for Hamas, said the Palestinian militant group had "decided to say enough is enough".
In response to the attacks, Israel's prime minister posted a video statement saying "we are at war".
The Israeli military said it has begun striking targets in the Gaza strip in response "to the barrages of rockets".
On Sunday, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Israelis they are going into a "long and difficult war".
Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif called on Palestinians everywhere to join the group's operation.