Hamas Surprise Attack on Israel: Chaotic Scenes in Photos

• Gunman infiltrated areas of southern Israel from the Gaza Strip.
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared: “We are at war.”
• Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities have been hit by rockets attacks.
• Israel has responded with air strikes.

On Saturday, Israel faced an unprecedented surprise attack from the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, the largest in decades.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war after a gunman infiltrated areas of southern Israel from the Gaza Strip.

Numerous individuals have allegedly been slain and hostages have been returned to the Gaza Strip. Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities have been targeted by rocket attacks, while Israel has retaliated with aerial bombings.

In Ashkelon, Israel, rockets are launched from the Gaza Strip while vehicles are on fire.

Palestinian militants ride an Israeli military vehicle

Israeli soldiers seek refuge on a road in Ashkelon.

The Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, hold a Palestinian flag.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu meets with the security cabinet

Rockets are fired from Gaza City towards Israel

In Tel Aviv, Israel, a building is on fire after rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip.

An injured soldier arriving at the emergency department of Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv.

Journalists take cover as Israeli soldiers clash with Palestinian fighters near the Gevim Kibbutz

Palestinians celebrate as they ride on an Israeli military vehicle

Israeli soldiers work to secure residential areas

Palestinian militants move toward the border fence with Israel

Palestinians inspect an ambulance hit by an Israeli strike

Rocket barrages launched toward Israel from Gaza

Rockets are fired from Gaza toward Israel

Smoke and flames billow after Israeli forces struck a high-rise tower in Gaza City

The search and rescue operation is ongoing in the ruins of the buildings that were destroyed during the Israeli attacks in Gaza City.

A man holds a distraught child in front of a building that was destroyed by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City.

—CNBC’s Adam Jeffery contributed to this article.