By Mohamed Majed
GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) – The Palestinian group Hamas said Tuesday it had fired rocket barrages at Tel Aviv and Beersheba in central and southern Israel in response to “massacres” against civilians in the Gaza Strip.
In separate statements, the group’s armed wing Qassam Brigades said the rocket fire was “in response to the Israeli massacres against Palestinians” in Gaza.
The Israeli army, meanwhile, said rocket sirens sounded across cities in central and southern Israel, without providing further details.
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 7,200 people have been killed in the conflict, including at least 5,791 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis.