In a dramatic escalation of hostilities, Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a volley of rockets into southern Israel on Sunday, claiming retaliation for what it described as ongoing Israeli “massacres” of civilians in Gaza.
The Israeli military reported intercepting most of the ten projectiles, but confirmed one landed in Ashkelon, injuring a civilian and damaging property.
The move prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to greenlight intensified military operations in Gaza. Speaking mid-flight to Washington, Netanyahu authorized a “strong response,” signaling a renewed wave of IDF strikes against Hamas strongholds.
Shortly after the rocket barrage, the IDF issued an evacuation order for civilians in Deir el-Balah, suggesting that the rockets were fired from that region. Military spokesperson Avichay Adraee warned via X (formerly Twitter), “This is a final and urgent warning before the attack… For your safety, move south immediately.”
Critics have called the IDF’s sweeping warnings a pretext for indiscriminate bombardment, while others view Hamas’ rocket fire as a reckless provocation endangering Palestinian civilians. As both sides double down, fears of a broader regional conflagration continue to mount.
