translation: the enemy will pay an unprecedented price. _ in the meantime, i call on all citizens of israel to strictly obey the instructions of the army. we are in a war and we will win it. hamas said their operation was a response to israeli violence against palestinians in the west bank. hello and welcome. i'm lucy hockings. israel's prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, says the country is "at war and will win", after a surprise attack by the palestinian militant group, hamas saw thousands of rockets launched into israel from gaza. dozens of militants appear to have entered southern israel, where a state of emergency has been declared. here's what we know so far. the rocket attacks have struck tel aviv and areas surrounding gaza. the town of ashkelon saw several major explosions.

israel's n12 news is now reporting that at least a0 israelis have been killed, with 740 injured. details of the palestinian incursions are unclear, but gunmen have been reported in towns near the gaza border and israelis have been warned to stay inside. there are also reports of a number of israeli soldiers taken captive by fighters, with hamas saying it has a "big number of captives, among them senior officers". israel's military has been striking targets in gaza in response. at least 198 palestinians are confirmed dead there. seen ongoing strikes over the past few hours. that number from palestinian health authorities. over 1000 palestinians have been injured. richard galpin has the latest. this was a surprise attack on israel by the militant palestinian group, hamas. it's claiming it's launched 5,000

rockets injust 20 minutes. some have hit the city of ashkelon, causing damage. amongst those on the ground, more hamas fighters heading into the battle. there is also footage apparently showing a captured israeli tank. a senior hamas commander has said the militant group had decided to say enough is enough. here in the israeli town of sderot, the emergency services have been taking the injured to local hospitals. it's reported that militants have been taking control of some of the streets in the area. on social media, the israeli prime minister said he had ordered a large mobilisation of troops. translation: the enemy will pay a heavy price - on a scale that it has never known.

meanwhile, i call on all citizens of israel to listen to the home front command instructions. we are at war, and we will win. the palestinian president, mahmoud abbas, has spoken out, saying palestinians have a right to defend themselves from what he describes as terror of settlers and occupation troops. palestinians are fleeing from the area as they anticipate retaliation by the israeli forces. richard galpin, bbc news. new lines from the reuters news agency quoting the israeli army. they said they have killed palestinians trying to infiltrate israeli by the sea. the un coordinator is condemning the multi—front assault against towns and cities, the barrage of rockets across israel by hamas militants. at

the end he says, i am deeply concerned for the well—being of all civilians. i am concerned for the well—being of all civilians. iam in concerned for the well—being of all civilians. i am in close contact with all concerned to urge maximum restraint and call on all sides to protect civilians. this is a dangerous precipice and i appeal to all to pull back from the brink. that is being reflected many people today, the fact that this is a dangerous precipice, what is happening right now. we are also hearing president biden has spoken, we understand, in the last few minutes to benjamin netanyahu. he says he fully supports, the us, fully supports israel's right to defend itself. he unequivocally condemned the appalling acts and attacks by hamas on israel. lots of development, this is a very active situation, as we have been seen, those retaliatory attacks in gaza and the number of dead rising. let's bring you up—to—date and bring you straight tojerusalem.

live now to ourjerusalem bureau chiefjo floto. what is happening in gaza, firstly? well, we are seeing a massive aerial response from the israeli military. as you have just said, the figures we have got now is 198 killed. hundreds wounded all across the gaza strip in the south, the centre and the north. israeli media are now reporting more than 100 israelis have been killed and wounded is excess of 900. it is difficult to overstate how unprecedented this event is. this is a nightmare scenario for many israelis and certainly for the israeli military, infiltration of hamas militants into towns and cities near the gaza strip. this wasn't supposed to happen. this was something that the idf was supposed to have prevented or taken steps to prevent. the israeli defence force. we have to go back decades, decades, before we get

to this level of casualties amongst the israeli population. it is still ongoing in sderot, stilt hearing reports of gun fired rockets being fired out of the gaza strip. sirens are going off all the way near the gaza strip on the israeli towns and cities. we understand that dozens of hostages are both military and civilian, have been taken by hamas. some are thought to be holed up in some of the small towns near the gaza strip. others we know from footage that's been released by hamas and others have been taken back into the gaza strip. this is an extraordinary situation. one for which the israeli military may have planned, but it is unlikely that anyone, either political or military, will be entirely prepared for what this now means for the coming days and weeks. jn for what this now means for the coming days and weeks. in terms of what is happening — coming days and weeks. in terms of what is happening right _ coming days and weeks. in terms of what is happening right now, - coming days and weeks. in terms of what is happening right now, 10, - coming days and weeks. in terms of| what is happening right now, 10, you what is happening right now, jo, you mention sderot, a very active situation there, too. is itjust

militant activity in gaza that we are seeing or is hamas still firing rockets into israel? figs j are seeing or is hamas still firing rockets into israel?— are seeing or is hamas still firing rockets into israel? as i have 'ust said, rockets into israel? as i have 'ust said. rockets fl rockets into israel? as i have 'ust said, rockets are i rockets into israel? as i have 'ust said, rockets are stilli rockets into israel? as i have 'ust said, rockets are still being h rockets into israel? as i have just said, rockets are still being fired | said, rockets are still being fired but also these militants who infiltrated israel, something that wasn't supposed to happen, wasn't supposed to be possible, that is still ongoing. they there are exchanges of fire. that is what the israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, says, to restored and get those people out of israel proper. but the scale of the hostagetaking is something that israel has never seen before. d0 is something that israel has never seen before-— is something that israel has never seen before. ., , , ., seen before. do we have numbers on that? and casualties. _ seen before. do we have numbers on that? and casualties. dozens. - seen before. do we have numbers on that? and casualties. dozens. we - that? and casualties. dozens. we understand _ that? and casualties. dozens. we understand it _ that? and casualties. dozens. we understand it is _ that? and casualties. dozens. we understand it is dozens _ that? and casualties. dozens. we understand it is dozens of- that? and casualties. dozens. we i understand it is dozens of hostages. we can't verify the numbers at the moment. the military are keeping tight—lipped about how many are soldiers. we have also seen bodies of soldiers recovered by hamas and displayed in gaza. one of the most shocking episodes today appears to have been at the scene of a party.

it was an all—night party being attended by thousands of israelis, who were celebrating the end of a majorjewish holiday here. it is very close, relatively close, to the gaza strip. in the early hours of this morning, they were overrun, it appears, by gunmen, almost indiscriminate shooting. we know there have been casualties. it appears that some of those revellers, some of those partygoers, have now ended up in gaza. we are getting reports of people tracking their relatives using iphone and phone tracking devices and seen that those devices are now within the gaza strip. —— and seeing. we know that there were hours of gunfire around that party. there were a lot of civilians there. this is just to give you a flavour of how devastating this attack has been. hamas has always said it wanted to do this. it has tried in the past. but never on this scale. today, this

morning, they used some kind of method to get through the fence, we saw a whole in the fence and motorcycles carrying gunmen streaming through the fence between gaza and israel. we saw microlights, paragliders, powered by engines, in the sky, flying into israel. as you have just mentioned at the top of the programme, the israeli military reported that the navy has killed militants attending to infiltrate israel by the sea. land and sea and air assaults. this is at a time when no one expected this to happen. things had not been great in terms of relations between hamas and israel. there have been violent protests at the border for many days ahead of this lastjewish holiday. what we were told was that this was part of a negotiation to release more funds from qatar and egypt, to

get israel to allow more permissions for gazan workers to enter israel to make money. no one anticipated this would lead to what is obviously a very, very detailed and large—scale coordinated attack. the hamas leadership must know and must have known that the response to this will be devastating from the israeli military. we are seeing already that that death toll is nearly 200. what we don't know is how the israeli military will plan to recover those hostages. we don't know if that is possible. in the past, a small number of hostages have been used to trade for prisoners, security prisoners, palestinian prisoners, being held in israeli jails. i don't think anyone is in the mood to negotiate at the moment but this is a devastating blow to the israeli military today. it is something that has shocked the entire israeli

country and the population of gaza will be shocked and surprised by what hamas has managed to do in conjunction with other militant groups. conjunction with other militant urou s. ~ ., conjunction with other militant ”mus, . ., ., conjunction with other militant u-rous. ~ ., ., ., , conjunction with other militant u-rous. ., ., ., groups. what are your thoughts on whether or — groups. what are your thoughts on whether or not _ groups. what are your thoughts on whether or not this _ groups. what are your thoughts on whether or not this might - groups. what are your thoughts on whether or not this might include l whether or not this might include hezbollah in lebanon and the west bank? ., , ., , bank? the fear is that this will triu aer bank? the fear is that this will trigger something _ bank? the fear is that this will trigger something even - bank? the fear is that this will trigger something even more i trigger something even more dangerous than we have seen today. it is difficult to use those words because today is bad enough. we anticipate this will get worse before it gets better. we have seen statements from hezbollah the lebanese militant group, in support of hamas. whether or not they decide to engage in this is another matter altogether. the fact of the matter is that were they to do so, that would be an all—out war, effectively, between israel and hezbollah, who control most of southern lebanon. the israeli government will hold the entire

lebanese government responsible for that. however, there are palestinian militant groups that are based in lebanon and have fired rockets into israel in the past. we are waiting to see what happens in the west bank. obviously, all of these militant groups are represented in the west bank and have been fighting for a long time. the casualties in the last... in this year, have already reached more than 200 on the palestinian side. it is a very active conflict area. hamas will be justifying this for a number of reasons. for its defence of the holy sites injerusalem, they say, of the status of their own prisoners in israeli jails and they will be saying they want to bring the fight to the israeli public that is currently taking place in the west bank. how on earth this ends is a different matter. it does appear that there will need to be quite a lot of fighting before anyone is prepared to sit down and talk but we

are getting ahead of ourselves, really. are getting ahead of ourselves, reall ., ., ., ., are getting ahead of ourselves, reall .�* ., ., are getting ahead of ourselves, reall ., ., ., ., really. jo, good to have you with us, really. jo, good to have you with us. thank _ really. jo, good to have you with us. thank you — really. jo, good to have you with us, thank you so _ really. jo, good to have you with us, thank you so much, - really. jo, good to have you with us, thank you so much, our- really. jo, good to have you with i us, thank you so much, our bureau chief injerusalem. jo talked about what is happening right now in gaza, retallick tree strikes on gaza. we can show you live pictures on the corner of the screen. we have seen a lot of smoke in the air, those strikes coming pretty constantly. the latest from the health authorities in the gaza strip is that 200 people, around 200 people, have been killed. 1610 people have been wounded as a result of these strikes. what is it like? terrifying for people who are there. let's cross live now to gaza city and join mohammed rafik who is a freelance journalist there. we are very happy to see you and what is going on and see that you are safe, do you feel safe where you are safe, do you feel safe where you are right now?— are right now? thanks very much for havin: are right now? thanks very much for having me- — are right now? thanks very much for having me. nowhere _ are right now? thanks very much for having me. nowhere is— are right now? thanks very much for having me. nowhere is literally - are right now? thanks very much for having me. nowhere is literally safe| having me. nowhere is literally safe right now in gaza. we are witnessing

a large and full—scale retaliation from the israeli air force in response to the military clashes across the borders. it is basically across the borders. it is basically a lot of places including, let's say, residential compounds and public spaces have been targets of these air strikes with a staggering number of palestinians being injured and killed, as well. it has been six hours now since the clashes began. it has been marked... i have been talking to a lot of average citizens in here. just trying to sense what it is feeling like. it is unprecedented scale and intensity. they are experiencing something that is... �* , �* is. . . inaudible palestinians - is. . . inaudible palestinians in. is... inaudible - palestinians in gaza is... inaudible _ palestinians in gaza haven't seen this escalation in military engagements since 2021. the war

between hamas and palestinian factions in gaza and israel. central areas within gaza have become targets of the raids that are being fired at will as the israeli army is being suggested, had security outposts and, like, places and posts associated with the governments in gaza. but a lot of people, including civilian people, have been targets of that air strikes. in some rural areas, neighbourhoods close to the fence, lots of residents have been advised to evacuate in the face of escalating combat. it is shocking and it is spreading a sense of fear amongst the residents, including myself. if amongst the residents, including m self. , ., ., ., myself. if they are told to evacuate. _ myself. if they are told to evacuate, where - myself. if they are told to evacuate, where do - myself. if they are told to evacuate, where do they| myself. if they are told to . evacuate, where do they go? myself. if they are told to - evacuate, where do they go? it is not known _ evacuate, where do they go? it is not known until— evacuate, where do they go? it 3 not known until now. the situation is being unfolded at the rapid rate across the borders. especially close to the separation fence where these

military engagements are taking place at the moment. speaking with lots of people there, they said they haven't seen and i can confirm, we haven't seen and i can confirm, we haven't seen and i can confirm, we haven't seen footage of palestinians breaching into these towns beyond the barriers like this before. but i must also confirm that these live images that are unfolding, it is complex as palestinians. it is like a hopeful celebration and concern. because they have a sense that, yeah, we can return to the occupied lands. but at the same time, they fear the possibility of an israeli potential long—term counterattack. as mediators have become part of the situation right now, there is no solution, let's say, to be seen. at the moment, it isjust

solution, let's say, to be seen. at the moment, it is just expected to escalate rapidly. speculations are valid at the moment. we are seeing, like, a situation that is basically horrific for palestinians in gaza. it wasn't like this six hours ago. it wasn't like this six hours ago. it wasn't like this six hours ago. it wasn't like this in the morning. the retaliation of the israeli air strikes has been increasing and escalating rapidly. flan strikes has been increasing and escalating rapidly.— strikes has been increasing and escalating rapidly. can you help us understand — escalating rapidly. can you help us understand something _ escalating rapidly. can you help us understand something for - escalating rapidly. can you help us understand something for our - understand something for our viewers, who are also possibly horrified when they see some palestinians celebrating the death of israelis and the amount of israelis who have been killed and injured in the attacks. those people who are celebrating, how do you explain that to people? we are watching pictures of it happening right now. watching pictures of it happening riaht now. . ., ., , ~ right now. yeah. yeah, of course. at the end of— right now. yeah. yeah, of course. at the end of the _ right now. yeah. yeah, of course. at the end of the day, _ right now. yeah. yeah, of course. at the end of the day, it _ right now. yeah. yeah, of course. at the end of the day, it is _ right now. yeah. yeah, of course. at the end of the day, it is not - right now. yeah. yeah, of course. at the end of the day, it is not a - the end of the day, it is not a celebration of having people killed, it is a celebration in a sense of hope for palestinians hoping the refugees in the gaza strip for over

75 years. they have a sense of hope that now make given those towns and villages are now being... being evacuated, it is now may be time for us, as refugees, who fled those towns and villages, it is time to return. they are now applauding behind the resistance factions and the political factions in behind the resistance factions and the politicalfactions in gaza behind the resistance factions and the political factions in gaza that this is time to keep striking. a lot of people are also speculating that it is not ending soon, whether we are escalating or not. there is a sense among the people that those attacks by the palestinian resistance groups and the people across the border is something to be expected to be responded for. it is not a celebration of killing people rather than having a hope, a sense of hope, for those refugees that we can now go back and return to the land is occupied towns. it is can now go back and return to the land is occupied towns.— land is occupied towns. it is busy comlex land is occupied towns. it is busy complex and _ land is occupied towns. it is busy complex and they _

land is occupied towns. it is busy complex and they will _ land is occupied towns. it is busy complex and they will be - land is occupied towns. it is busy complex and they will be a - land is occupied towns. it is busy i complex and they will be a myriads of reasons that people express certain emotions but it is good to hear that one perspective of you. as we see all of these air strikes taking place at the death toll going up, the number of injured going up, we also are seeing infrastructure being affected. are there concerns you may not have power or water in the coming hours? i’m you may not have power or water in the coming hours?— the coming hours? i'm sorry, i didn't hear? _ the coming hours? i'm sorry, i didn't hear? that's _ the coming hours? i'm sorry, i didn't hear? that's exactly - the coming hours? i'm sorry, i didn't hear? that's exactly the j didn't hear? that's exactly the auestion didn't hear? that's exactly the question i _ didn't hear? that's exactly the question i am _ didn't hear? that's exactly the question i am actually - didn't hear? that's exactly the question i am actually asking i didn't hear? that's exactly the - question i am actually asking you, we are speaking to you now on a line which is quite clear. the picture is even quite clear. but i wonder if there is a concern that you may not have power and water or internet, the infrastructure could be affected by these strikes?— by these strikes? yes, at the moment. _ by these strikes? yes, at the moment. i — by these strikes? yes, at the moment, i am _ by these strikes? yes, at the moment, i am living - by these strikes? yes, at the moment, i am living in - by these strikes? yes, at the moment, i am living in a - moment, i am living in a neighbourhood that has been impacted by the air strikes. my electricity in the house has gone out. it is the reason the lighting is not really goodin reason the lighting is not really good in here. it was expected to

have our day shift of electricity hours ago but at the moment, it has been cut off for the entire neighbourhood due to the impact of the air strikes. as you may have heard, previously during my interview, bombings are becoming closer by the minute and getting closer by the minute and getting closer to where i basically live with my family. you asked me about the infrastructure. it is being deteriorated by the moment. the air strikes outside our being horrible. it's just really difficult for every citizens and even journalists like myself to go out. it is just like a situation that we can barely save our lives with. we situation that we can barely save our lives with.— our lives with. we are trying to keep up-to-date. _ our lives with. we are trying to keep up-to-date. are - our lives with. we are trying to keep up-to-date. are you - our lives with. we are trying to keep up-to-date. are you and | our lives with. we are trying to - keep up-to-date. are you and your keep up—to—date. are you and your family scared? irate keep up-to-date. are you and your family scared?— family scared? we are trying to be nood, family scared? we are trying to be good. trying _ family scared? we are trying to be good. trying to _ family scared? we are trying to be good. trying to be _ family scared? we are trying to be good, trying to be safe, _ family scared? we are trying to be good, trying to be safe, thank - family scared? we are trying to be good, trying to be safe, thank you| good, trying to be safe, thank you very much. it is very horrific to hear the sounds of the explosions coming closer to where we live but we are hoping we are going to be fine. we are hopeful. we hope that

too and we — fine. we are hopeful. we hope that too and we appreciate _ fine. we are hopeful. we hope that too and we appreciate you - fine. we are hopeful. we hope that too and we appreciate you talking l fine. we are hopeful. we hope that| too and we appreciate you talking to us, stay safe, thank you for bringing us your perspective. i should explain that we will be bringing you an array of voices from across israel and gaza throughout the day, as we bring you all the very latest of what is happening on the ground in this conflict but also try and understand the reasons behind it. and this conflict, the antagonism, the emotions that go back many, many decades, too. it isa it is a complicated picture with lots of voices coming to you over the coming hours on bbc news. let's show you some of the key images we have from this conflict. i think we can bring you rockets, some dramatic pictures of rockets, that are being fired from gaza into israel, streaking across the sky. several thousands were launched early in tel aviv. several thousand were launched early on saturday at tel aviv —

and also other towns in the south of israel. and this is the damage that the rockets have caused. buildings set on fire here in ashkelon. the emergency services in israel say 22 people have been killed and hundreds more have been injured. palestinian gunmen have also managed to cross into israel itself, taking advantage of the chaos. these pictures supplied by hamas do appear to show breaches in the barbed wire. the young man we were speaking to said he has never seen pictures quite like this, social media pictures, of people who were then able to get through the security barrier. we're also hearing of israeli tanks and personnel being captured in gaza. these pictures appear to show a captured tank being clambered over by palestinians. we continue to get a lot of reaction from right around the world. we have a statement from former president donald trump, who says, "these attacks are a disgrace, these hamas attacks, and isabel has every right to defend itself with overwhelming

force. sadly, american tax $12 help fund these attacks which many reports say come from the biden administration —— american taxpayers dollars. biden has whittled it away at a far more rapid pace than anyone thought was possible. here we go again." let's listen to the response when asked a short moment ago from james cleverly speaking in london. we have seen an unprecedented attack on israel. reports of thousands of rockets being fired at civilian targets. and reports of arbitrary killings, murders, and kidnaps. we completely condemn, the uk, completely condemn, the uk, completely condemns these terrorist acts against israel. we support israel's right to self—defence. of course, we will be working closely with the israeli government. we already have had contact with them and we will continue to do so to

protect british in israel and to try and bring peace as quickly as possible. and bring peace as quickly as ossible. ~ ., ., ., , ., , possible. what form does not support take? what support _ possible. what form does not support take? what support is _ possible. what form does not support take? what support is britain - possible. what form does not support take? what support is britain ready i take? what support is britain ready to give _ take? what support is britain ready to give to _ take? what support is britain ready to give to israel as they respond to these _ to give to israel as they respond to these attacks by hamas? of course, we will respond _ these attacks by hamas? of course, we will respond to _ these attacks by hamas? of course, we will respond to requests - these attacks by hamas? of course, we will respond to requests from - these attacks by hamas? of course, | we will respond to requests from the israeli government. we will be in close contact with them and we will remain in close contact with them as this progresses. of course, our priority in the short—term is to help protect british nationals in israel. there is travel advice on the fcd oh website. people should follow that if they are planning to travel to israel. they should follow the advice of the israeli defence force if they are already in israel. james cleverly, the uk's foreign secretary talking to journalists a short time ago. i have been mentioning the statement from donald trump but also i mentioned earlier thatjoe biden has condemned these attacks. the us president. we

understand he is being constantly updated and briefed on what is happening in israel. and in gaza. this is the live shot of garzo where 200 palestinians have been killed 2oo palestinians have been killed and over 1000 injured —— of gaza. we will continue to keep you up—to—date on one of the biggest escalations in the conflict in israel and the palestinians in years. almost 2oo palestinians in years. almost 2oo palestinians killed but the figures from israel are horrifying for people there too, at least 100 israelis killed. 800 others wounded as well. as i mentioned, this is one of the biggest escalations we have seenin of the biggest escalations we have seen in this conflict for many, many years. the israeli military right now, as you can see, carrying out these air strikes in the gaza strip in response to this huge, major, surprise attack that took place this morning by palestinian militants. it is still still ongoing and we are

hearing that hamas is still firing rockets into israel at the moment. when they did it this morning, it was colourful gun men to enter is well using motorbikes, paragliders, and boats —— it was coverfor. the is many defence forces said they managed to stop a number of people trying to infiltrate israel by boat —— israeli defence forces. hamas and islamichhad say they captured dozens of israeli hostages. hamas has responded by saying they hope to see palestinian prisoners are freed from israeli jails and said this is all a response to israeli violence against palestinians. in the past few minutes, joe biden condemning the violence and urging restraint on both sides, as well. we also had a statement from donald trump, nbn, who has condemned the violence and said that israel has is a rewrite to defend itself with overwhelming

force. —— trump, tambe n. these live pictures still coming to us. lots of developments as well. killing close to 200 palestinians, these israeli strikes. these are new pictures we have of damage being done in ashkelon by hamas rockets that were sent over this morning. is responding with targeted attacks in the gaza strip in response to this barrage of rockets, part of the unprecedented attack by palestinian militants. damage done. people in this part of israel have been told to stay inside. there is still a real sense of fear because —— because they are militants who broke through the security fence and reports from towns like sderot that there are bodies on the streets. that militants entered these towns

and opened fire on people. a huge sense of fear, panic, confusion, as well, because this is an ongoing operation. these are new pictures we have. they are from israel, i guess, and they show the effects of one of these hamas rocket attacks. can i also pointed in the direction of the bbc news live page. we are following every development for you, bringing your reaction from around the world, the very latest pictures, and interviews too. a section on the hostages that have been taken as well and what might happen. islamic jihad and hamas claiming they have captured many israeli soldiers and they have been posting on telegram, confirming that and they hope to exchange them for palestinian prisoners who are in jail in israel.

this has been something that has been condemned by the eu, as well, as an act of violation of the international law and the eu has demanded their release. if you see on the website, it is all there for you. if you can't watch us on the television, log on or do both, have them going at the same time. thanks for being with us. this is bbc news. the headlines... at least 100 israelis have been killed after a surprise attack from the palestinian militant group hamas. in response, nearly 200 palestinians were killed in israeli air strikes. prime minister benjamin netanyahu says his country is at war and warned hamas would pay a price it's never known before. the israeli defence force declares a "state of readiness". hamas said their operation was a response to israeli violence against palestinians living in the west bank. the palestinian president said his people had the right to defend themselves against "occupation troops".

world leaders and humanitarian groups have been reacting to one of the biggest escalations to the conflict in recent years. the us, un and nato has condemned the violence, while egypt — which usually mediates between israeli—palestinian militants — warned of dire consequences to the current situation. israel's prime minister benjamin netanyahu says the country is "at war and will win", after a surprise attack by the palestinian militant group, hamas saw thousands of rockets launched into israel from gaza. dozens of militants appear to have entered southern israel, where a state of emergency has been declared. here's what we know so far. the rocket attacks have struck tel aviv and areas surrounding gaza. the town of ashkelon saw several major explosions. israeli media is now reporting that at least 100 israelis have been killed, with 740 injured.

details of the palestinian incursions are unclear,