First rocket warning in northern Israel in latest escalation as Gaza air strikes continue

Israel's army on Thursday said it had received a rocket warning in the north of the country, the first time the alert has been triggered there since hostilities soared between Israel and Palestinians earlier this week.

🚨 Sirens are sounding in southern, central AND northern Israel. 🚨

Israelis living all across the country are running for shelter as Hamas terrorists fire more rockets at Israel.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) May 12, 2021

The approximately 1,500 rockets fired from Gaza by Hamas's military wing Al-Qassam Brigades since Monday had so far set off warnings in southern and central Israel, but not in the north, the army said.

However in the small hours of Thursday morning, alarms not only sounded in the economic capital Tel Aviv in the middle of the country - where residents rushed to shelters - but also in Jezreel Valley in the north.

Seven people in Israel have been killed by the rockets, including a six-year-old and a soldier, AFP reported.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian health ministry said the death toll from the Israeli attacks on the besieged Gaza Strip since Monday has risen to 67 fatalities, including 17 children and six women.

The Israeli airstrikes have continued until Thursday early morning, according to AFP.

The army said in a Tweet that it has targeted "strategically significant buildings belonging to Hamas & a Hamas naval force squad."

The targets of the air strikes included Hamas's main bank and counterintelligence infrastructure, the army added.