An Irish woman, who has lived in Israel for 40 years, has said the current conflict is "the worst" she has experienced during her time in the country.
Jeanie Ryan Jafari, who is originally from Co Mayo, was in her home when Hamas militants attempted to storm the Zikim kibbutz where she lives, around 5km to the north of Gaza.
The area is located close to the sea.
She said a group of militants had approached the shore in rubber dinghies, but the Israeli coastguard managed to "intercept a lot of them."
However, three Hamas members made their way to the perimeter of the kibbutz.
"We heard the fighting going on but we didn't know what was happening because we had no communication whatsoever because they scrambled all the communication lines and everything else.
"There were no phones, no electricity, no television, so nobody knew what was happening from kibbutz to kibbutz, or anywhere indeed, it came so fast," she added.
She said the three militants were killed by a civil patrol in her kibbutz.
Ms Ryan Jafari, who travelled to Ireland via Cyprus, said she feels "very lucky" to have escaped unharmed, given what unfolded in neighbouring communities.
"It's the worst, worst, worst it's ever been. I have been there 40 years. Had a lot of wars but it was never like this, never like this."
Her husband, who works in a hospital in Ashkelon, has remained in Israel but Ms Ryan Jafari said she does not know when she will be able to return to her home.
"They're talking about going in with ground forces into Gaza and if that goes on, it will take a long time and it will be terrible."
She said she is worried about her friends.
"People have been killed, children have been killed, friends that I know," she added.
Irish pilgrims return home from Israel
Meanwhile, a group of 52 people from Ireland, who were on a pilgrimage to Israel, have returned home.
The group was on a visit to a number of locations including Bethlehem, Jerusalem and Nazareth when Hamas militants launched the attack on Israel last Saturday morning.
Catherine Steenson, who is from Dublin, described the last few days as "horrific" for her.
She said she had been "terrified since Sunday" and "delighted to be home, safe and sound."
Pat Doyle, who is from Belfast, paid tribute to the organisers of the pilgrimage and Department of Foreign Affairs officials at the Irish Embassy in Tel Aviv.
He said the group was "very well supported by Marian Pilgrimages and by the Irish authorities who came to support us at the airport."
Mr Doyle said it was "slightly" worrying on one occasion but he said "on the whole, we were grand, we knew what we were doing."
Catherine Winston, who is from Dublin said "it was scary at first when you don't know what's going on and you're told there is a war.
"We were in Bethlehem when it all began and we left Bethlehem and went to Nazareth and it was quite safe there actually in Nazareth."
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Fr Conor McDonough, the spiritual director of the pilgrimage, said being in Israel while the attacks were taking place "was a little bit scary, just a lot of uncertainty."
He added: "There was no security concern from our point of view, so it was a big shock, but I mean, the amazing thing is that the pilgrimage managed to continue."
Fr McDonough said having to use the air raid shelter "was a frightening experience."
"But I think for the people in that part of the world, it's a regular experience for them unfortunately and an experience they're going to have into the future."
Jason Osborne, a journalist with The Irish Catholic, said "it was obviously nervy but I must say the group of pilgrims we were with were absolutely fantastic."
He said that "there was never any issue really and the staff at the Embassy in Tel Aviv were exceptional."
"So, even though it was a risky situation, we were never in any doubt. We were in very good hands with all of them."
