GAZA/JERUSALEM - Tens of rocket barrages were launched Saturday morning by the armed factions from Gaza into the Israeli cities for the first time since May last year, Palestinian security sources and eyewitnesses told Xinhua.

They said that a series of explosions were heard near the separation fence as the Iron Dome system attempted to intercept them.

Locals shared some videos on their Facebook accounts, showing the launching of a number of rockets from various areas in the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli army said in a press statement that rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip in the last half hour, calling on the Israeli public in the south and center of the country to remain near the protected areas and comply with the orders of the Home Front Command.

Mohammed al-Deif, a leader from Hamas, announced on Saturday the beginning of a new military operation the "Al-Aqsa Flood" against Israel.

He made the declaration through a brief recorded statement.