Israel says it is striking Gaza targets after Hamas announces new operation

Israeli firefighters extinguish fire after a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip hit a parking lot in Ashkelon, southern Israel (Tsafrir Abayov/AP)

The Israeli military says it is striking targets in the Gaza Strip after the leader of Islamic militant group Hamas announced the beginning of a new military operation against Israel.

In a rare public statement, Mohammed Deif said that 5,000 rockets had been fired into Israel early on Saturday to begin Operation Al-Aqsa Storm.