Hamas’ armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, has claimed responsibility for launching a significant rocket barrage towards Tel Aviv from the Gaza Strip, prompting Israeli authorities to activate warning sirens across the city. This marks the first time in months that Tel Aviv has been targeted, with sirens blaring throughout central Israel in response to the attack.

The al-Qassam Brigades announced the “big missile attack” via their Telegram channel, citing retaliation for what they termed “Zionist massacres against civilians.” In response, the Israeli military sounded alarms in the central city to alert residents of the incoming threat.

According to Al-Aqsa TV, the rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip, with at least eight projectiles fired from the Rafah area. Several rockets were intercepted by the Israeli military, with no immediate reports of casualties from Israeli emergency medical services.

This escalation follows a period of relative calm, with the last rocket sirens heard in Tel Aviv four months ago. Sirens were also triggered in other cities and towns, including Herzliya and Petah Tikva, as reported by the BBC.

The missile attack coincided with the entry of a new batch of aid trucks into Gaza from southern Israel, under a recently established agreement to bypass the blocked Rafah crossing. This agreement, brokered between the US and Egypt, aims to provide temporary relief by sending aid through alternative routes amidst the ongoing blockade.

Earlier, Israeli airstrikes resulted in the deaths of at least five Palestinians in Rafah, as reported by local medical services. Israeli tanks have been operating near the city’s outskirts, particularly close to the primary southern crossing into Egypt, without making a significant incursion.

Israel maintains that its military operations aim to eliminate Hamas fighters in Rafah and free hostages believed to be held in the area. However, the offensive has intensified the humanitarian crisis, drawing widespread international condemnation.

The health ministry in Gaza reports nearly 36,000 Palestinian casualties since Israel’s offensive began. The conflict escalated following an attack by Hamas-led militants on southern Israeli communities on October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and over 250 hostages, according to Israeli sources.

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