Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip launched dozens of rockets toward Israel early Saturday, activating air raid sirens all around the nation and increasing the possibility of fresh, intense battle. Israel ordered residents near Gaza to remain indoors as it said a “suspected security incident” along the border had occurred.

During a morning onslaught that lasted more than 30 minutes, missiles could be heard firing from Gaza, and sirens could be heard as far away as Tel Aviv, some 70 kilometers (40 miles) to the north. According to Israel's Magen David Adom rescue agency, a rocket that struck a building in southern Israel badly injured a 70-year-old woman. A 20-year-old guy was moderately hurt by rocket shrapnel in another location, it claimed.

Palestinian media in Gaza reported a possible attempt by militants to infiltrate Israel, but no further details were immediately known. Hamas said the leader of its military wing, Mohammed Deif, planned to make an announcement later Saturday.

There was no immediate response from Israel. However, the Israeli military typically launches airstrikes in retaliation for rocket fire, increasing the likelihood of broader combat. Although there was no claim of responsibility for the rocket fire, Israel typically holds the governing Hamas militant group accountable for any firing coming from the region.

The launches followed weeks of escalating hostilities in the West Bank, which Israel occupies, along its tense border with Gaza.

Israel has maintained a blockade on Gaza ever since the region was taken over by the anti-Israel Islamic militant group Hamas in 2007. Since then, the fierce rivals have engaged in four conflicts. There have also been numerous rounds of smaller fighting between Israel and Hamas, and other smaller militant groups based in Gaza.

The rocket fire comes during a period of heavy fighting in the West Bank, where nearly 200 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli military raids this year. Israel claims that the raids are targeted at militants, but demonstrators throwing stones and bystanders have also been killed. There have been around 30 fatalities as a result of Palestinian attacks on Israeli targets.

Image source: AP