In the most significant escalation in recent months, Hamas militants fired approximately 10 rockets from Gaza into southern Israel on yesterday targeting cities including Ashkelon and Ashdod. The rocket attack marked a dramatic increase in hostilities, following the collapse of a temporary ceasefire earlier this year.
Israel’s advanced Iron Dome missile defense system successfully intercepted at least five of the incoming rockets. However, one projectile struck a residential area in Ashkelon, lightly injuring a 30-year-old man and causing property damage. He was treated at Barzilai Hospital. Additionally, two individuals were injured while rushing to bomb shelters, and several others suffered acute anxiety due to the sudden attack.
In swift retaliation, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a series of airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, targeting rocket launch sites and issuing evacuation orders for parts of central Gaza, particularly the Deir al-Balah region. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, in consultation with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, ordered an expansion of the ongoing military operations against Hamas.
The renewed violence has resulted in a rising death toll in Gaza, with Palestinian health authorities reporting that at least 39 people were killed during Israeli strikes over the past 24 hours. These fatalities add to an already staggering number of over 50,000 Palestinians reported dead since the Israeli offensive began in October 2023.
The current escalation follows a fragile ceasefire agreement that was put in place on January 19, 2025. That ceasefire, which facilitated the temporary release of hostages and prisoners, unraveled in March when Israeli ground forces resumed operations inside Gaza, prompting Hamas to resume attacks.
The latest wave of violence occurs just as Prime Minister Netanyahu travels to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump. Their meeting is expected to address the deteriorating situation and explore diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation.
The roots of the current conflict trace back to October 7, 2023, when a deadly Hamas-led attack resulted in the deaths of 1,200 Israelis and the abduction of 251 individuals. In response, Israel launched a broad military campaign with the stated goal of dismantling Hamas and securing the release of hostages.
As both sides brace for further conflict, the international community remains deeply concerned about the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the potential for a broader regional escalation.