Sirens sound in central Israel as Hamas fires ‘large barrage’ of rockets

CAIRO – 26 May 2024: Hamas launched a barrage of rockets into Israel, resulting in sirens sounding in central Israel, including Tel Aviv, for the first time in months, according to the Associated Press.

While Hamas has continued to fire rockets from Gaza during the ongoing Israeli aggression since October 7, it refrained from using longer-range rockets in recent months.

No immediate reports of casualties or damage have been received but social media footage shows black fumes rising from some open areas.

BREAKING: 🇮🇱🇵🇸 Hamas is bombing Tel Aviv right now from Gaza with long range rockets. Multiple impacts have been reported pic.twitter.com/tALOFd3yHZ

— Mega Geopolitics (@MegaGeopolitics) May 26, 2024

Hamas's military wing, the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, reportedly announced on Telegram that they targeted Tel Aviv with "a large barrage in response to the Zionist massacres against civilians”.

The Israeli army claims that the rockets were fired from the southernmost city of Rafah in Gaza, where Israeli forces have conducted ground operations in the past three weeks.

Talks on the horizon

The incident occurs amidst ongoing Israeli ground operations in Gaza, especially in Rafah city, despite growing prospects of resuming indirect talks between Israel and Hamas this week to secure a ceasefire and a prisoner swap deal.

According to an anonymous source speaking to Reuters on Saturday, the negotiations will revolve around new proposals led by Egyptian and Qatari mediators, with active involvement from the United States.

Israel has been facing increasing international pressure regarding its operations in Rafah.

In response to an urgent request from South Africa, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel on Friday to immediately cease its military operation in the city.

On May 7, Israel launched the ground operation in Rafah and took control of the Gazan side of the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza.

The move, which brought strong condemnation from Egypt, blocked aid through the crucial Rafah crossing.

Only today, humanitarian aid trucks were redirected from Rafah to the Karm Abu Salem crossing between Gaza and Israel, as Egypt has declined coordination with Israel on aid delivery through the Rafah crossing since its takeover.

Israeli forces invaded Rafah a few hours after Hamas accepted a ceasefire proposal presented by Egyptian and Qatari mediators, which was subsequently rejected by Benjamin Netanyahu's government.

Israeli rejections of ceasefire proposals have coincided with reports of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza being killed amid the widescale Israeli airstrikes.

This has instilled fear among the Israeli public that time may be running out for approximately 100 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza.

Consequently, Israeli streets have witnessed widespread protests, including by the families of the victims, adding additional pressure on the Israeli government.

Israel maintains that the operation in Rafah is necessary to dismantle Hamas's military capabilities, which is among the objectives of the ongoing war.

Diaa Rashwan, Head of Egypt's State Information Service, stated that an operation in Rafah will not secure the safe return of hostages, eliminate Hamas's military capacities, or guarantee that Israel will not be targeted by Hamas in the future.