Volley of rockets launched from Gaza as Hamas warns international airlines to cancel flights to Israel

A new volley of rockets has been launched from Gaza towards the Israeli cities of Ashdod, Ashkelon and Tel Aviv.

Israeli media said more than 100 rockets had been launched in the attack.

Hamas's armed wing, Al-Qassam Brigades, took responsibility for the latest barrage claiming to have used a new rocket type called the "Ayyash 250."

Brigades spokesperson Abu Ubaida said that the rockets had a reach of more than 200km and had been aimed at Ramon airport, based near the city of Eilat.

"We enter the Ayyash 250 into service and tell the enemy, here are your airports, and every point from north of Palestine to its south is within range of our missiles, and here is the next deterrent weapon flying in the sky of Palestine towards every target that we define and decide with the help of God," he said in a statement, according to Palestinian media.

He also called on "international airlines to immediately halt their flights to any airport" in Israel.

On Thursday, British Airways said it was cancelling flights to Tel Aviv, the latest international carrier to avoid flying to Israel amid the escalating violence there.

United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines on Wednesday also all cancelled flights between the United States and Tel Aviv.