World

Gaza War: Hamas fired rockets at Tel Aviv and central Israel, sirens sounded; 35 Palestinians killed in IDF attack

Anjali

Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas launched rockets at Israel from Gaza on Sunday, resulting in sirens sounding in Tel Aviv and causing fear among the population. As of now, there are no reports of casualties from this attack, marking the first instance of long-range rocket firing from Gaza since January. Despite this, Hamas has been intermittently firing rockets and missiles at Israeli communities near the Gaza border. Hamas took credit for the attack, mentioning that explosions from rocket launches were audible in central Gaza. The Israeli army confirmed that eight rockets, including two from Rafah in Gaza City, penetrated Israeli territory. The Israeli military had recently initiated an operation against terrorists in the region. Hamas claimed responsibility for the assaults, citing retaliation for the killing of its civilians and targeting Tel Aviv with long-range rockets. Meanwhile, the IDF stated that Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant met with military officials to discuss the Gaza operation. Galant addressed the forces, emphasizing efforts to eradicate Hamas and rescue hostages in Gaza. He commended the soldiers' commitment since the Hamas attack on October 7 last year. Since the conflict's inception, 35,984 Palestinians have been killed, with 80,643 others sustaining injuries. The Palestinian Health Ministry accused the IDF of perpetrating eight massacres in the Gaza Strip, with many victims reportedly trapped under rubble or in the streets, impeding rescue efforts by ambulances and civil defense teams. Reports from Reuters indicated that at least 20 Palestinian civilians perished in Israeli assaults in Rafah, while the Associated Press noted that Israeli airstrikes in Rafah claimed the lives of 22 camp residents, with CNN reporting a death toll of 35. Hamas has declined potential ceasefire discussions with Israel, as asserted by senior representative Osama Hamdan. Allegations by Israel suggest a significant presence of Hamas fighters in Rafah, justifying continued military actions despite international pressure. In a separate incident, clashes erupted in Tel Aviv between law enforcement and demonstrators demanding the return of Israeli hostages, accompanied by calls for Prime Minister Netanyahu's resignation.