Hamas launches massive rocket attack on Israel, sparking war and chaos

Israel is in a state of war after a surprise attack by Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups from the Gaza Strip on Saturday, October 7, 2023. The attack involved a barrage of about 5,000 rockets fired into southern and central Israel, as well as several infiltrations by gunmen across the border fence into Israeli territory. The rocket attacks caused widespread damage and casualties in Israel, killing at least 22 civilians and injuring more than 500 others. Among the victims was a 60-year-old woman who died in Ashkelon, a city near the Gaza border. The rockets also hit residential areas, cars, schools, and a hospital in cities such as Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Beersheba, and Rishon LeZion. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) declared a state of emergency and war in response to the attacks, which they said caught them by surprise. The IDF said that “a number of terrorists have infiltrated into Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip” and that they were engaged in clashes with the militants in several