Tel Aviv - A salvo of rockets was launched at Israel, resulting in the postponement of a press conference featuring US Senators in Tel Aviv on Sunday, as reported by The Times of Israel.
Sirens rang out in several areas, including Tel Aviv, Holon, Ramat Gan, Rishon Lezion, and Beit Dagan in the southern region. According to Israel's Magen David Adom Rescue Service, no immediate injuries have been reported, but search and rescue operations are ongoing.
The press conference in Tel Aviv, featuring a bipartisan group of senators, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT), and Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ), was initially scheduled for 7 pm local time. However, it was delayed as attendees were forced to take shelter in bomb shelters, according to The Times of Israel. "Senators, reporters, and guests at the event are currently sheltering," stated US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Furthermore, the UN Peacekeepers in Lebanon disclosed that their base had been struck by rocket fire, although no injuries have been reported so far. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) issued a statement, noting, "Our headquarters in Naqoura was hit with a rocket, and we are working to verify from where. Our peacekeepers were not in shelters at the time. Fortunately, no one was hurt."
As per The Times of Israel, Hamas claimed responsibility for firing 20 rockets toward that region. Additionally, the Israel Defense Forces reported that nine rockets had penetrated Israeli airspace, with five being intercepted and four landing in unpopulated areas.
UNIFIL appealed for de-escalation, actively engaging with authorities on both sides of the Blue Line to quell the situation, emphasizing the urgency of a ceasefire to facilitate peacekeepers in their mission to find resolutions.
In a recent update, The Jerusalem Post reported 1,300 fatalities and over 3,600 injuries.
Israeli Defence Minister Gallant indicated that Hamas was holding an estimated 150-200 hostages in the Gaza Strip and emphasized the ongoing efforts to locate them within the complexities of the situation.
On a related note, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in an earlier statement on Saturday, labeled Hamas as a terrorist organization, emphasizing its agenda to annihilate Israel and harm Jewish individuals. He clarified that Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people or their legitimate aspirations for the future.