GAZA CITY, Palestine

The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian resistance group Hamas, said on Saturday that “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood” is proceeding as planned to hold Israel accountable for its aggression.

“Al-Aqsa Flood Operation is proceeding on the ground according to plan,” said the group’s spokesman Abu Ubaida in a statement, according to the Hamas-affiliated Al-Aqsa satellite channel.

He stated that through this attack “the Palestinian resistance is holding Israel accountable for its aggression against the Holy Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Palestinian prisoners.”

“This is a historic opportunity to bring the occupation to its knees,” the spokesman added, calling on the Palestinians in the West Bank and inside Israel to “engage in the battle.”

The Al-Qassam Brigades announced starting “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood” with rockets targeting enemy sites, airports, and military installations.

Israel has declared a “state of readiness” for war after Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip fired an intense barrage of rockets early Saturday toward Israel, reports Israel Broadcasting Authority.

The rocket salvoes were fired from different locations in the enclave but Israel’s Iron Dome defense system intercepted many, according to an Anadolu correspondent.

At least 20 Israelis were killed and over 540 others injured since Friday morning in rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip, according to media reports.

Israel deployed its forces to deal with the Palestinian gunmen's infiltration from Gaza, the Army Radio added.

Dozens of Israeli warplanes hit 21 Hamas sites in Gaza, the Israeli army claimed in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Al-Quds Brigades claimed it captured a number of Israeli soldiers in Gaza.

*Writing by Ikram Kouachi