Wednesday, May 29, 2024
On Sunday, Hamas fired rockets from Rafah at Israeli civilians in the city of Tel Aviv. Israeli officials reported many of the rockets were shot down. Two civilians in Herzliya were wounded and a civilian home was damaged due to shrapnel from the rockets. Israeli Defense Forces later in the day destroyed a rocket launcher used in the attacks.
This is not the first time Hamas and allied forces, such as Hezbollah, the Houthis, Iran, and others, have fired rockets at civilians into Israel. In a recent eleven day span, more than 4,300 rockets were fired into Israel. In total, since the founding of Hamas, recognized as a terrorist organization by a variety of nations, sources indicate it has launched more than 20,000 rockets at civilians both in Gaza and Israel.
This came amidst the recent escalation after the October 7, 2023 attack. The attack killed 1,139 Israelis, including 373 members of the security forces, 695 civilians (including 36 children), and 71 foreigners. In addition, nearly 250 Israelis were taken hostage. During the attack, more than 3,000 Hamas gunmen crossed the border, as well as nearly 6,000 rockets were fired. Sources indicate numerous acts of sexual assault resulted during this conflict. In response, Israel declared war on Hamas and mobilized 350,000 reservists.
Sources
- Nidal Al-Mughrabi, Emily Rose. "Hamas fires missiles at Tel Aviv, prompting first sirens in months" — Reuters, May 27, 2024
- Emanuel Fabian. "As fighting rages in Rafah and Jabaliya, IDF announces deaths of 2 soldiers" — The Times of Israel, May 26, 2024
- Emanuel Fabian, Toi Staff. "Rafah rocket volley targets Tel Aviv area, in first such attack in 4 months" — The Times of Israel, May 26, 2024
- Mersiha Gadzo. "Israel's war on Gaza live news: Hamas armed wing fires rockets on Tel Aviv" — Al Jazeera, May 26, 2024
- "Israel social security data reveals true picture of Oct 7 deaths" — France 24, December 15, 2023
- Victoria Bisset. "Who are the Hamas leaders behind the attacks on Israel?" — The Washington Post, October 11, 2023
- Sam Rosen. "Understanding the Recent Conflict in Gaza" — AIPAC, May 28, 2021
- Emanuel Fabian, Gianluca Pacchiani. "IDF estimates 3,000 Hamas terrorists invaded Israel in Oct. 7 onslaught" — The Times of Israel, November 1, 2023