An AFP journalist reported that militants in the Gaza Strip fired hundreds of rockets towards Israel on Friday. As of this writing, the Iron Dome defense system has intercepted eight rockets. The attacks came as Israeli military aircraft continued pounding the Palestinian enclave with air strikes.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke of a “grave mistake” made by Hamas when it launched the rocket fire and warned that the militant group would pay an unprecedented price for its action. He spoke from the town of Ofakim, which has suffered damage in the past day. The Israeli government warned Gaza residents to find shelters.
A barrage of rockets hit several communities in southern Israel. At least one house in Sderot was damaged, and two people were lightly injured, one of them a four-year-old boy who suffered shrapnel wounds after a projectile struck his house.
Other missiles landed in the Eshkol Regional Council and Sha’ar Hanegev. A rocket also landed near a kibbutz in Sderot. One of the rockets hit a kindergarten, causing no injuries but injuring several children as they ran for cover.
Another rocket slammed into a mall in Ashdod. The occupants were evacuated, and the shopping area was reportedly heavily damaged. Several people were treated for shock and minor injuries.
On the ground, Israeli forces clashed with Hamas soldiers in multiple locations in southern Israel. There were no casualties, but the Israel Defense Forces warned residents to seek shelter.
The Gaza attack came as Israel and Egypt attempted to revive the peace process. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made this clear in interviews given to multiple U.S. television news programs, saying that it is possible the Hamas attack was aimed at derailing the emerging diplomatic initiative.
Hamas, which advocates the destruction of Israel, said it was launching the rocket attack in response to what it calls Israel’s “escalated aggression.” It also said that it would not stop until Israel withdraws from the West Bank and Jerusalem and frees all Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The attack drew condemnation from Western countries and praise from Iran, Hezbollah, and other Middle Eastern states that support the militants. The White House backed Israel and called for restraint. The United States also issued a blunt warning to Iran and other hostile nations. “This is not a moment for any party that seeks advantage to exploit these events,” the administration said. “The world is watching.” The White House said it was working with governments worldwide to ensure the situation was contained in Gaza. President Biden also vowed to help Israeli civilians in the affected areas. He also called on Palestinians to fight for their freedom. He is set to visit the region this week. On Sunday, he is scheduled to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Jerusalem. The two will discuss the recent rocket attacks and a possible prisoner exchange.
