Hamas announced that it launched missiles at Tel Aviv on Sunday, triggering sirens in the Israeli city for the first time in four months. This action was intended to demonstrate the group’s military capabilities amid Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
According to the Israeli military, eight projectiles were detected crossing from Rafah, a city at the southern tip of the Gaza Strip. Despite a United Nations court ruling demanding a halt to attacks on Rafah, Israel continued its operations there. The Israeli military reported that several projectiles were intercepted, and Israeli emergency services confirmed no casualties.
The Hamas al-Qassam Brigades claimed responsibility for the rocket fire on their Telegram channel, citing “Zionist massacres against civilians” as the motive. Hamas-affiliated Al-Aqsa TV also reported that the rockets were launched from Gaza.
Rafah, located about 100 kilometers (60 miles) south of Tel Aviv, has been a focal point of Israeli military efforts to eliminate Hamas fighters and rescue hostages. This assault has exacerbated civilian suffering and sparked international condemnation.
On Sunday, Israeli airstrikes in Rafah resulted in the deaths of at least five Palestinians, according to local medical services. Israeli tanks have approached the city’s outskirts, near the main southern crossing into Egypt, but have not yet launched a full-scale invasion.
In response to the rocket attack, Israel’s hardline public security minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, who is not a member of the war cabinet, called for intensified military action in Rafah. “Rafah with full force,” he posted on X.
The Gaza health ministry reported that nearly 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s offensive. This military campaign began after Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israeli communities on October 7, killing approximately 1,200 people and capturing over 250 hostages, according to Israeli reports.
In the northern Gaza area of Jabaliya, intense fighting continued on Sunday. The Israeli military discovered a weapons storage site in a school during a raid, which contained dozens of rocket parts and other weapons. The military refuted claims by Hamas that Palestinian fighters had abducted an Israeli soldier.
