Israel's 'Iron Dome' defence system explained
The Israeli military says Hamas militants have fired more than 1000 explosive rockets into Israel since the conflict flared up on Monday.
The fact that so far the Israeli death toll stands at an estimated seven, compared to at least 67 Palestinians - of whom only 15 are confirmed militants, according to the Israeli military - might be in part due to Israel's highly-advanced Iron Dome missile defence system, one of the few of its kind in the world.
The Iron Dome is tailor-made for Israel's defence needs, blasting rockets, missiles and drones out of the air.
The iron dome defence system intercept and blasts rockets or missiles out of the sky. Getty
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What is the Iron Dome?
The Iron Dome was developed following the 2006 war between Israel and Lebanon.
In the course of that conflict, terror group Hezbollah repeatedly launched rocket attacks into Israel.
Israel's state-run Rafael Advance Systems was tasked with developing a new missile defence system, which was eventually deployed in 2011.
Prior to the current conflict, RAS had claimed more a success rate of 90 per cent interceptions.
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Israel's Iron Dome defence system has been intercepting rockets fired in the ongoing coflict. Associated Press
The Iron Dome is a short-range ground-to-air defence system that uses a radar to track and intercept aerial attacks on claimed Israeli territory.
As well as rockets and missiles, it can be used to counter artillery, piloted aircraft, and drones.
The system uses Tamir interceptor missiles, which cost more than $100,000 each, while a full missile battery is valued at almost $65 million.
The system's role in the conflict
Footage from recent rocket exchanges in the Gaza Strip show the explosive deterrent of the Iron Dome in action, with missiles seemingly exploding in mid-air.
Numerous rockets have nonetheless slipped past the defence system, striking Israeli targets and killing an estimated seven people so far, including one child.
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The Iron Dome is designed to protect Israeli territory from short-range aerial attacks. Associated Press
More than 200 Israeli citizens have been injured, the national military said.
Thousands of people spent the night in bomb shelters.
Among Palestinian casualties, 17 have been reported as children - more than the confirmed number of Hamas militants killed by Israeli estimates.
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