Hamas urges West Bank Palestinians to confront Israel

Hamas has called on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank to confront Israel and its "terrorist settlers" after the armed group on Saturday launched an operation into Israeli territory.

The multi-pronged attack took Israel by surprise and saw Hamas use missiles, boats and even paragliders.

Israel has responded by heavily bombing Gaza and fighting between the two sides continued on Sunday. Hundreds have been killed both in Israel and the coastal enclave.

"We call on you for a general mobilisation and to confront the occupation in all locations," Hamas said in a statement on Sunday.

The armed faction called for settlers to be cut off from the "bypass" roads that connect illegal settlements, so drivers do not have to go through Palestinian areas.

Mass events would start at 18:00 (15:00 GMT) on Sunday in all West Bank cities and proceed to points of confrontation with the "brutal Zionist occupation", Hamas said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to turn the group's hiding places into "rubble".

He said his country's army will "immediately use immediately use all its strength to destroy Hamas's capabilities" in a post on social media platform X, formerly called Twitter.

"We will destroy them and we will forcefully avenge this dark day that they have forced on the State of Israel and its citizens," he added.

"All of the places which Hamas is deployed, hiding and operating in, that wicked city, we will turn them into rubble. I say to the residents of Gaza: Leave now because we will operate forcefully everywhere."

Gaza is one of the world's most densely populated areas, with few places for civilians to flee to.

The enclave is also besieged, meaning residents cannot leave the territory.