Hamas fires rockets into Israel ‘in response to targeting of Gaza civilians’

By Mohammad Majed

GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) - The Palestinian group Hamas said Monday it had fired rocket barrages at the cities of Ashkelon and Beersheva in southern Israel.

The group’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, said the rocket fire also targeted Israeli military forces along the border with the Gaza Strip “in response to the targeting of civilians in Gaza.”

The conflict in Gaza, which has been under Israeli bombardment and a blockade since Oct. 7, began when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea, and air. It said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.

The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.

Nearly 6,500 people have been killed in the conflict, including at least 5,087 Palestinians and more than 1,400 Israelis.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala in Istanbul