Dozens of rockets fired from Gaza towards Israel

Dozens of rockets have been fired from the Gaza Strip towards Israel.

Air raid sirens rang out across the south of Israel and could be heard in the greater Tel Aviv area, tens of kilometres to the north, on Saturday morning.

A 70-year-old woman was critically injured after a rocket hit a building in central Israel, Israel's Magen David Adom rescue agency said.

Elsewhere, a 20-year-old man was injured by rocket shrapnel, it addsed

Footage from Reuters news agency shows Israeli firefighters fighting flames in the city of Ashkelon, as thick plumes of smoke rose from charred out vehicles.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said security chiefs are due to meet as a result of the rocket strikes.

An initial report from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), said that a "number of terrorists" had infiltrated into Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip and that residents in surrounding areas have been asked to stay in their homes, reports BBC.