Hamas Rockets Target Central Israel Amid Escalating Conflict in Gaza
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- May 27, 2024
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Hamas launched a barrage of rockets at central Israel on Sunday afternoon, setting off air-raid sirens in the Tel Aviv area for the first time since late January. This attack demonstrates that Hamas still retains long-range missile capabilities, even more than seven months into Israel’s ongoing war against the militant group in Gaza.
According to the Israeli military, at least eight rockets were fired from Rafah, a southern city in Gaza where Israeli forces have been advancing in an operation against Hamas. This offensive has drawn global scrutiny and caused over 800,000 Palestinians to flee Rafah, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the enclave, as reported by the United Nations.
Israel’s air defenses intercepted “a number” of rockets, and there were no immediate reports of significant damage. Magen David Adom, Israel’s emergency service, stated that two women were lightly injured while fleeing to a bomb shelter. Hamas’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, claimed responsibility for the rocket fire, stating it was “in response to massacres against civilians.”
For months, Israeli leaders have justified the large-scale ground operation in Rafah as necessary to eliminate Hamas militants entrenched in the city. However, the offensive has drawn serious concern from the Biden administration, the United Nations, and human rights groups, who warn of the threat to civilians sheltering in the area.
On Friday, the International Court of Justice appeared to order Israel to cease its military offensive in Rafah, though some judges allowed for limited operations to continue despite the ruling.
Despite this, the Israeli military continued its operations in and around Rafah over the weekend, engaging in ongoing firefights. On Sunday, Israel’s defense minister, Yoav Gallant, visited Rafah, indicating the military's determination to proceed. Gallant received updates from troops and was briefed on the “deepening of operations,” according to his office’s statement.
“Our goals in Gaza are emphasized here in Rafah — to destroy Hamas, return the hostages, and maintain freedom of operation,” Gallant told the troops.
Israeli politicians, including Benny Gantz, a member of Israel’s war cabinet, argued that the rocket fire underlined the necessity of the Rafah offensive. Gantz asserted that “wherever Hamas is, the Israeli military must act.”
The rocket attack temporarily disrupted life in central Israel, where residents have adapted to a wartime routine. Thousands of Israelis called up for military reserves following the Hamas-led October 7 attacks have returned home, and recent rocket attacks have primarily targeted communities near the borders with Gaza and Lebanon.