Hamas fires rockets at Tel Aviv as Israel renews Gaza ground campaign

Hamas claimed to have launched three rockets towards Tel Aviv, marking the first known retaliatory action by the group since Israel resumed military operations in Gaza. Israeli sources reported intercepting one of the missiles, while the remaining missiles landed in unpopulated areas. This escalation highlights the ongoing tensions and the potential for further conflict in the region.

According to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry, at least 591 people, including over 200 children, have been killed since Israel resumed fighting on Tuesday. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated on Thursday that it had launched ground operations in the Palestinian territory. This followed a pause in large-scale military operations since a ceasefire agreement was reached between Israel and Hamas in January. The resumption of hostilities has led to a significant increase in casualties and heightened concerns about the humanitarian situation.

The IDF stated later on Thursday that soldiers had begun "ground activity" in Rafah, located in the southern part of the territory near the Egyptian border. The statement claimed that troops had "dismantled terrorist infrastructure," adding that the IDF was also continuing ground activities in northern and central Gaza. Earlier, the Israeli military said it had begun "targeted ground activity" to establish a so-called "partial buffer zone between north and south Gaza," calling the operation a "limited ground operation." IDF Spokesman Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee stated that troops had deployed to the center of an area known as the Netzarim Corridor, which separates northern and southern Gaza. These operations signal a shift in strategy and an intensification of the conflict.

Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer accused Hamas of causing the renewed violence, stating that Hamas "forced this escalation by rejecting every hostage deal, including proposals brokered by the United States and other countries." Israel resumed attacks on Tuesday after negotiations to extend a ceasefire stalled, warning that the attacks would intensify until Hamas released the remaining hostages. Israel stated that Hamas is still holding 59 hostages, with 24 believed to be alive. The failure to reach an agreement has resulted in a renewed cycle of violence and accusations between both sides.

Meanwhile, Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA, posted on X that five of the agency's staff had been killed in the "last few days." "They were teachers, doctors, and nurses," he added, warning that "the worst is yet to come" amid the ongoing ground invasion. On Wednesday, the UN stated that its compound in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, was damaged, resulting in the death of one staff member. While the UN stated that the circumstances remained unclear, Jorge Moreira da Silva, head of the UN Office for Project Services, said that this was not an "accident" but "at least an incident." The Gaza Health Ministry accused Israel of carrying out the attack, stating that the attack injured five others. The Israeli military stated that it did not attack the compound but was investigating the incident. These incidents raise serious concerns about the safety of humanitarian workers and the protection of civilian infrastructure.

The United States, Israel's main arms supplier, stated that it is committed to complying with international law regarding arms supplies. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that US President Donald Trump "fully supports Israel and the IDF's actions in recent days." British Foreign Secretary David Lamy confirmed on Thursday that a British national was injured in the compound attack. This followed a statement from a charity that one of its staff members, a 51-year-old British bomb disposal expert, was injured. "Our priority is to support them and their family at this time," he told lawmakers. The international community is closely monitoring the situation and calling for adherence to international law and the protection of civilians.

At Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, Qassem Abu Shalkhia said that his two-year-old son, Omar, was born through in vitro fertilization (IVF) after five years of trying. "They bombed the tent next to us, and he died," he told Agence France-Presse. "Omar was my only son, oh world, I have no one else." A doctor there, Tania Hajj Hassan, told a BBC news program that she heard at least 76 people "didn't even make it to the emergency room" but were "sent straight to the morgue." She recalled "an indescribable level of horror and evil – it felt like the end of the world." These personal accounts highlight the devastating human cost of the conflict and the immense suffering of civilians.

Thousands of Israelis participated in anti-Netanyahu protests in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, calling for the release of the hostages. Some people were arrested, and police in Jerusalem used water cannons against protesters. Additionally, Yemen's Houthi rebels fired a ballistic missile toward Israel on Thursday, targeting Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, said a military spokesman for the Iran-backed group. There were no reports of casualties, and the IDF stated that the missile was intercepted before entering Israel. These events demonstrate the growing domestic and regional pressures surrounding the conflict.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Tuesday that Israel had "returned to full force fighting," and any ceasefire negotiations would take place "under fire." A group representing the families of the hostages accused the Israeli government of "choosing to abandon the hostages" by launching new attacks. Israel and Hamas failed to agree on how to extend a ceasefire agreement into its first phase, which expired on March 1. Hamas disagreed with renegotiating the ceasefire agreement under Israel's terms, though it offered to release a living American hostage and four bodies of hostages for mediators to try to extend the ceasefire agreement. In early March, Israel blocked all food, fuel, and medical supplies from entering Gaza to pressure Hamas. It accused Hamas of diverting these supplies as part of its strategy against Israel but did not provide evidence. The breakdown of negotiations and the resumption of hostilities have further complicated efforts to resolve the conflict.

The war was triggered by Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 251 others hostage. During the first phase of the ceasefire, 25 Israeli hostages and 5 Thai hostages were released alive. Israel responded to the October 7 attacks with a large-scale military offensive that has killed more than 48,500 Palestinians, mostly civilians, before Israel resumed operations, the Hamas-controlled health ministry said. Israel's offensive has also caused massive damage to homes and infrastructure. The ongoing conflict has had a devastating impact on both Israelis and Palestinians, with significant loss of life and widespread destruction.