The Israeli prime minister said in an overnight message that the war had been "forced on us by a murderous attack by Hamas", and the first stage would end in the coming hours when most of the militants on Israeli territory had been wiped out. Israel would restore security to its citizens and win, he added.

Israeli officials have issued a warning that Hamas militants have entered southern Israel, resulting in hundreds of casualties.

Israeli media reported earlier in the day that over 300 people were killed and more than 1,500 others were injured in Israel as a result of the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

At the same time, the Palestinian Health Ministry said that more than 195 people have been killed and over 1,600 injured in Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip.

Hundreds of armed Hamas militants entered southern Israel, causing casualties, and reportedly taking several people as hostages into Gaza.

In retaliation, Israel has unleashed air strikes, targeting operational assets in Gaza.

The Israeli military has conducted artillery strikes in southern Lebanon in response to mortar fire from the region toward Israeli positions in the Mount Dov/Shebaa Farms area, a disputed territory.