27 May 2024: The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, announced on Sunday, May 23, that it had launched a significant missile attack from Rafah, located in the southern Gaza Strip, targeting Tel Aviv, Israel’s commercial hub. This attack marks the first instance of rocket sirens being heard in Tel Aviv since January 2024.
In a statement on its Telegram channel, Al-Qassam Brigades claimed the attack was in retaliation for what it described as “Zionist massacres against civilians.” However, the statement did not provide details about the extent of the missile attack, nor did it report any resulting damage or casualties.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the missile attack, sharing a photo on X (formerly Twitter) that showed sirens sounding in Kfar Saba, Herzliya, and Raanana, areas north of Tel Aviv. The IDF also reported that “a barrage of rockets was launched from Rafah toward central Israel moments ago.”
Despite the escalation, humanitarian aid has continued to flow into Gaza. The IDF noted that “humanitarian aid has been going into Gaza through the Kerem Shalom Crossing this morning, and now rockets are being fired at central Israel.” Additionally, the Israeli Air Force stated on X that its air defense fighters intercepted several rockets launched from the Rafah area.
This surge in hostilities comes shortly after aid trucks entered Gaza from southern Israel under a new agreement designed to bypass the Rafah crossing with Egypt. The ongoing eight-month conflict between Israel and Hamas has resulted in over 35,900 Palestinian deaths. Israel’s offensive in Gaza commenced following a Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, which killed nearly 1,200 people.
The international community remains concerned as the violence intensifies, with no clear resolution in sight.
