Dozens of rockets fired from Gaza at Israel

The Israeli army reports that dozens of rockets were fired at Israel from Gaza on Saturday morning.

The attack occurred shortly before 6.30 local time from various locations in the Gaza Strip. The shelling continued for more than half an hour. Several Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv, were on air alert.

A 70-year-old woman was killed after a rocket hit a building near Gedera. Injuries were also reported in Ashkelon and Javne.

In the wake of the attack, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu will have a security meeting with defence and army officials later today.

There have been new reports recently of a deteriorating situation in the Palestinian territories, as four Palestinians have been killed in the occupied West Bank since Thursday.

Meanwhile, CNN reports that the Palestinian militant group Hamas has claimed responsibility for the rocket attack. Its military commander, Muhammad Al-Deif, released a recorded message announcing the "Al-Aqsa Storm" operation. He said the Palestinian militant group had "targeted the enemy's positions, airports and military positions with 5,000 missiles".

^{Smoke billows from Israel following a rocket attack from Gaza City © PHOTO ILIA YEFIMOVICH / DPA}