Gaza City: Disturbing videos circulating on social media on Saturday showed civilians being targeted by Hamas militants in Israel's southern cities near Gaza, using motorcycles, SUVs, and even paragliders to infiltrate the towns.

One such video, captured by a resident in Sderot, shows Hamas militants firing at civilian vehicles passing along the street. The resident filmed the incident from his balcony and can be seen quickly seeking cover as a gunman glances in his direction.

The video was shared on X by international human rights attorney Arsen Ostrovsky.

Israel on Saturday officially declared war as it faced a barrage of thousands of rockets launched by the militant organisation Hamas.

This escalation of conflict comes after months of escalating violence in the Israeli-Palestinian dispute, with casualties in the occupied West Bank reaching levels not seen in years.

Videos on social media, reportedly from Gaza, also showed militants celebrating the death and destruction inflicted on Israel, dragging the bodies of Israeli soldiers into the streets.

The violence escalated a day after Hamas, which controls Gaza, said that the "people had to draw a line to end the occupation" and added that Israel continued to commit crimes across Palestinian land, and especially on the holy site of Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem, said media reports.

In a pre-recorded speech, Hamas militant leader Mohamed Deif, said, "We have decided to put an end to all of this, with the help of God, so that the enemy understands that the time of recklessness without accountability is over. We declare Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, and the first strike has surpassed 5,000 missiles and shells in the first 20 minutes."