DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip – Rockets launched by Hamas from Gaza set off air raid sirens as far as Tel Aviv, marking the first long-range attack since January. The Israeli military confirmed eight projectiles entering Israel from the southern Gaza city of Rafah, with some intercepted and the launcher destroyed. In a separate incident, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group also launched rockets at nearby communities.
A new agreement allowed aid trucks to enter Gaza from southern Israel, bypassing the Rafah crossing after recent Israeli intervention. However, access to humanitarian aid remains uncertain due to ongoing conflict. Egypt has yet to reopen its side of the Rafah crossing until control is returned to Palestinians, diverting traffic through Israel’s Kerem Shalom crossing for now.
The war between Israel and Hamas has taken a toll on Gaza, with nearly 36,000 Palestinians killed, intense hunger, and reports of famine in some areas. The conflict was triggered by Hamas’ attack into Israel in October, leading to casualties, hostages, and ongoing tensions. Southern Gaza faces aid shortages, affecting over a million Palestinians who have fled the area.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu aims for a “total victory” over Hamas, resisting pressure to end the conflict without guarantees. Scuffles erupted in Tel Aviv as protesters demanded the return of hostages and called for political change. The war has isolated Israel internationally, with calls for Palestinian state recognition and ICC involvement.
Hamas claimed to have captured an Israeli soldier, but Israel denies any soldiers being held. Meanwhile, a suspect was detained over a video challenging military leadership, sparking controversy. The situation in Gaza remains precarious, with challenges in aid delivery, political tensions, and ongoing conflict affecting civilians on both sides.