This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates as more information becomes available.
UPDATE, 11:00 a.m. EST – The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is reporting that more than 80 rockets were fired into Israel in the past hour, it posted to Twitter.
“The Iron Dome intercepted several of them. We are currently striking terror targets in the Gaza Strip,” the IDF said.
OVER THE LAST HOUR: 80+ rockets fired from #Gaza at innocent Israelis. The Iron Dome intercepted several of them. We are currently striking terror targets in the Gaza Strip. pic.twitter.com/a27pPb6oJe
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDFSpokesperson) November 12, 2018
The IDF also posted raw footage of the rockets:
RAW FOOTAGE: The skies of southern Israel RIGHT NOW. Dozens of rockets are being fired from #Gaza at Israeli civilians. pic.twitter.com/Iu6QwzUo8l
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDFSpokesperson) November 12, 2018
Hamas claims it launched 100 rockets.
#BREAKING: IDF: 80 launches in 40 minutes; Hamae claims over a 100 https://t.co/xAtPTmyOjQ
— Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) November 12, 2018
Several rockets have been launched from Gaza into Israel, and one has reportedly hit a bus.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) tweeted on Monday morning that an Israeli bus was “directly hit by terrorrist fire from Gaza.”
BREAKING: Israeli bus directly hit by terrorist fire from #Gaza. Details to follow. pic.twitter.com/vorHRqOaVa
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDFSpokesperson) November 12, 2018
And, the IDF said its fighter jets “have started striking terror threats throughout the Gaza Strip,” it later tweeted Monday.
Our fighter jets have starting striking terror targets throughout the #Gaza Strip. pic.twitter.com/sNadQMp8Xq
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDFSpokesperson) November 12, 2018
The IDF shared video of the rocket attacks, which can be viewed here:
#BREAKING: More then 20 morters launched from Gaza towards Israel; Direct hit at an Israeli bus (Credit: Rotternik network) pic.twitter.com/i2DoELtwzK
— Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) November 12, 2018
The attacks set off sirens across southern Israel.
🚨SIRENS SOUNDING ACROSS SOUTHERN ISRAEL🚨
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDFSpokesperson) November 12, 2018
According to local media reports, the bus was destroyed and one person wounded, RT said, and the bus was apparently empty at the time. The wounded person was injured by a gunshot and is in serious condition, according to reports.
In August, Israel conducted a series of airstrikes against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.
After Hamas fired more than 150 rockets into southern Israel, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) retaliated by launching more than 140 airstrikes on Gaza, according to an RT News report.
“IDF fighter jets targeted over 20 terror sites in military compounds and in a Hamas training camp. Among the sites targeted were a weapons manufacturing and storage facility, a complex used for the Hamas naval force and a military compound used for rocket-launching experiments,” the IDF said in a statement, which was translated by RT.
Israel’s Iron Dome intercepted 25 of the 150 rockets fired by militants. Most of the missiles reportedly landed in uninhabited locations, though at least four struck the city of Sderot.
The attacks come as Egypt is leading efforts in an attempt to reach a cease-fire between the two sides.
The Israeli military in July had engaged in a “wide-scale attack” against Hamas at the Gaza Strip, after Israeli soldiers came under fire, the military said.
The Israeli military later said that “fighter jets commenced a wide-scale attack against Hamas military targets throughout the Gaza Strip,” the Associated Press had reported.
And in May, a senior official of Hamas’ political bureau claimed during a TV interview that 50 of the Gazans killed in recent clashes with Israeli troops were part of the terror group.
Salar al-Bardaweel confirmed during the interview that the militant group was sending its people to die in the protests, the Times of Israel had reported.