Hamas Launches Rocket Attack on Tel Aviv, Israel Retaliates with Airstrike on Rafah

Hamas has launched a significant rocket attack on the Tel Aviv area in central Israel, with several rockets intercepted by air defense systems, according to the Israeli military. The attack, which came after a period of relative calm, has raised concerns about the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

The rocket attack, which included up to eight projectiles, was launched from the southern Gazan city of Rafah, where displaced people were sheltering. The Israeli military responded with an airstrike on a Hamas compound in Rafah, which resulted in dozens of Palestinian casualties, including women and children.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported that 30 people were killed in the airstrike, which hit a designated area for displaced people. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the airstrike and acknowledged reports of civilian casualties, saying the incident was "under review".

The rocket attack on Tel Aviv, the first in nearly four months, highlights the threat Hamas still poses to people across Israel. The Israeli military has been operating in Rafah for several weeks, despite
international concern and a ruling from the UN's top court.

The latest escalation comes ahead of further ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, which are expected to resume next week. The military wing of Hamas, the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said the rocket attack was in response to "the massacre of civilians".

The IDF said its Iron Dome anti-missile system had intercepted three of the eight projectiles, while most of the others landed in open areas. However, photos published by Israeli media showed minor damage from shrapnel to a home in Herzliya, where an elderly woman lived with her caretaker. Police said two people suffered light injuries.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas has resulted in significant human suffering, with over 800,000 Palestinians fleeing Rafah and an estimated two million civilians affected. Aid groups have warned that nowhere in Gaza is safe and that Israeli strikes have hit civilians in areas previously designated as "humanitarian zones".