Sirens sound in Tel Aviv, parts of central Israel after first rocket attack in months

Sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and parts of central Israel on Sunday after rockets were fired at the city, according to the Israeli health ministry, CNN reported. It marked the first time rockets were fired on the city since last January.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said that eight pockets were fired from the Rafah area of southern Gaza and had crossed into Israel. The IDF stated that a “number of projectiles” had been intercepted.

According to CNN, Hamas has claimed responsibility for the attack. Hamas said it had targeted Tel Aviv with a “large missile barrage” in response to Israel‘s “massacres against civilians.”

Meanwhile, Israeli Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant met with Israeli military officials in Rafah on Sunday for an update on the troops’ operation in Gaza, according to an IDF statement, CNN report.

According to the statement, Gallant delivered an address to the IDF troops and told them that efforts were being made to dismantle Hamas and return the hostages who continue to remain held in Gaza. He also lauded the soldiers for their dedication and sacrifices since Hamas‘ attack on Israel on October 7, the military said.

Eighty-one people have been killed and 223 have been injured as a result of Israeli military operations in Gaza in the last 24 hours, the health ministry in Gaza reported Sunday.

As many as 35,984 people were killed and 80,643 others were injured since the war between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, according to CNN report.

The Palestinian health ministry claimed that Israeli forces “committed eight massacres against families in the strip.” It further said that a number of victims are “still under rubble and on the roads” so “ambulance and civil defense crews cannot reach them.”

As per the CNN report, the ministry does not distinguish between casualties among terrorists and civilians. It also does not include the several thousand people thought to still be missing or buried under rubble in Gaza in its death toll figures. (ANI)