Illustrative image.
On October 13, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas Movement, launched a Ayyash 250 rocket at northern Israel in response to heavy strikes on Gaza Strips.
The Ayyash 250 is one of Hamas heavies rockets with a range of 250 kilometers. The faction said that the rocket targeted the Northern Region Command headquarters of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) near the city of Safed.
The IDF alleged that the rocket was intercepted by the David’s Sling medium-range air defense system. However, videos that surfaced on social networks after the attack showed a large fire in northern Israel at what appears to be an industrial complex.
Following the rocket attack on Safed, Hamas fired a salvo of rockets at Tel Aviv city in central Israel. The rocket hit the nearby city of Rehovot, causing heavy damage and wounding at least one person. Another rocket attack targeted Hatzerim Air Base in the Negev Desert.
Hamas and its allies have fired more than 5,000 rockets at Israel since launching a large-scale attack at several bases and settlements near Gaza on October 7. At least 1,300 Israelis were killed and more than 3,000 others were killed. Hundreds others were captured or went missing.
The IDF launched an unprecedented wave of strikes against Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack. Late on October 12, it escalated even further by demanding the evacuation of more than one million Palestinains from the northern part of the Strip in what appears to be preparations for a ground invasion.
In its most recent update, the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says 1,799 Palestinians have been killed and another 6,388 have been wounded in Israeli strikes on the Strip since fighting broke out. Hundreds of women and children were among the dead.
This appears to be just the beginning of a long war in Gaza. Losses on both sides will likely grow in coming days. Palestinian civilians in the Strip will however pay the ultimate price.
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