Rocket Sirens Sound in Tel Aviv as Hamas Launches Barrage from Gaza
Desk Report, May 27, 2024: Rocket sirens echoed across central Israel, including Tel Aviv, on Sunday following a barrage of rockets launched from Gaza by Hamas. The al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, claimed responsibility for the “big missile attack” on Tel Aviv, according to a report by Reuters. In response, the Israeli military activated warning sirens in the central city to alert residents of the incoming threat.
In a statement posted on its Telegram channel, al-Qassam Brigades cited the attack as retaliation for what it described as “Zionist massacres against civilians.” This marked the first instance of rocket sirens being heard in Tel Aviv in four months. While the Israeli military did not immediately provide details on the cause of the sirens, Israeli emergency medical services reported no casualties following the incident.
The BBC reported that at least eight rockets were launched from the Rafah area in southern Gaza, with several intercepted by Israeli defenses. Alert sirens were also sounded in other cities and towns, including Herzliya and Petah Tikva.
The missile attack occurred shortly after new aid trucks entered Gaza from southern Israel under an agreement designed to bypass the Rafah crossing, which had been blocked for weeks. The aid shipments followed an accord between the United States and Egypt to temporarily facilitate aid through the crossing. Israel is under increasing international pressure to enhance aid delivery to Gaza, which has faced extensive damage and food shortages due to over seven months of conflict.
Earlier on Sunday, Israeli airstrikes in Rafah resulted in the deaths of at least five Palestinians, as reported by local medical services. Israeli tanks conducted operations near the outskirts of Rafah, particularly close to the primary southern crossing into Egypt, without making a significant incursion into the city. Israel asserts that its operations aim to eliminate Hamas fighters entrenched in Rafah and to free hostages allegedly held in the area. However, the military actions have deepened the humanitarian crisis for civilians and drawn widespread international condemnation.
The health ministry in Gaza reports nearly 36,000 Palestinian casualties from the ongoing Israeli offensive, which was initiated following a Hamas-led attack on southern Israeli communities on October 7, 2023. This attack resulted in approximately 1,200 casualties and over 250 hostages, according to Israeli records.
As the situation escalates, the region remains tense, with both sides trading hostilities amidst ongoing calls for a ceasefire and humanitarian relief.
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