At least 40 people have died and over 700 are injured after rockets were fired into Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip this morning. 

Israel has issued a ‘State of War’ alert as large plumes of black smoke could be seen rising from a number of Israeli towns. 

Palestinian fundamentalist group Hamas are responsible for the attacks, according to Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Galant. 

Israeli ambulance service, @Mdais, report 1 killed in rocket fire and 15 injured.

Footage of rocket impacts: pic.twitter.com/DjumRB6lWc

— Alistair Bunkall (@AliBunkallSKY) October 7, 2023

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the Hamas' attack "murderous".

"We are at war - not an operation, not rounds, but war," he said.

According to Reporter Alistair Bunkall, there is evidence that Hamas managed to get some of its fighters across the border and there are now “gun battles” happening in towns on the Gaza Strip. 

Phone footage also showed Hamas fighters attempting to reach Israel on small boats and paragliders.

Footage from security cameras showed them entering the city in pick-up trucks and motorbikes. 

Social media images showed cars on fire and damaged buildings. 

Rockets fired by Palestinian militants into Israel, 07/09/2023. Image: ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy Stock Photo

Israel said it was attacking targets in the Gaza Strip and the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) warned "the Hamas terror group will pay a very heavy price" 

The Israeli military urged residents to stay indoors as attacks continue. 

Tánaiste Micheál Martin has condemned the attacks online and called for "an immediate cessation of all hostilities".

The attacks come after weeks of heightened tensions along Israel's volatile border with Gaza, and heavy fighting in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. 

Palestinian Initiative Representative Mustfa Barghouti said the attacks are a reaction to the "oppression" Palestinians have faced for decades.

"The world community has done nothing to stop an occupation that has become the longest in modern history," he said.

"We are the ones who are under siege we are the ones who are displaced and we are the ones who are under oppression."