Red Alert sirens sounding in Jerusalem — then explosions — as Israel under massive rocket, terror attack from Gaza

UPDATE AT 10:30AM ISRAEL TIME

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL — In a massive escalation amidst the surprise attacks on Israel by terrorist forces in Gaza, emergency sirens began going off in Jerusalem just after 8 a.m. local time.

Moments after the sirens started, I heard large explosions here in the Israeli capital.

Not clear yet if those were rocket explosions, hitting targets, or the Iron Dome system intercepting the rockets and protecting the city’s residents.

Israeli military forces are now retaliating by striking terror targets in Gaza.

Early on Saturday morning, warning sirens for incoming rockets were triggered in southern and central Israel.

These Red Alert sirens were activated in locations such as Tel Aviv, situated approximately 70 kilometers (about 43 miles) from the Gaza Strip, as well as Sde Boker, Arad, and Dimona in the southern region, also about 70 kilometers away.

Residents in these areas reported hearing explosions.

The IDF has declared a state of war readiness.

Citizens in the South have been ordered to shelter inside homes.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi issued a statement, “Hamas, which is behind this attack, will bear the results and responsibility for the events."

One elderly Israeli woman has died in the attacks.

"The IDF declares a state of readiness for war," the IDF said in a statement. "There has been widespread rocket fire into Israeli territory from Gaza, and terrorists have infiltrated Israeli territory through various entry points. Residents in the south and center of the country are required to be in close proximity to protected areas, and those in the Gaza periphery should remain within a secure space."

• 5 Israeli civilians have been killed by rocket attacks and hundreds have been wounded

• Some Israelis have reportedly been taken hostage by Hamas terrorists

• Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant issued the following statement: “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. I call on all of Israel’s citizens to follow security instructions. The State of Israel will win this war.”

• The IDF Spokesperson announced that the name of the IDF operation against the Hamas terrorist organization is “Operation Swords of Iron.”