Tensions soared as Israeli airstrikes killed 19 Palestinians in Gaza, prompting Hamas to launch two rockets at Tel Aviv. This exchange, the first in months, unfolded amid ongoing ceasefire negotiations. With nearly 40,000 Palestinians dead and a ceasefire uncertain, the region faces escalating viole
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas reached a new height on Tuesday as Israel’s military response resulted in the deaths of at least 19 Palestinians in Gaza. In retaliation, Hamas launched two rockets at Tel Aviv, marking the first time in months that the Israeli commercial hub was targeted. This exchange of hostilities unfolded as international mediators sought to resume ceasefire talks later in the week.
Israeli Airstrikes in Gaza:
- Israeli airstrikes targeted multiple locations in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of 19 Palestinians.
- Six people were killed in Deir Al-Balah, including a mother and her 4-days old newborn twin babies.
- Another strike in the Al-Bureij Camp led to the death of seven Palestinians.
- Four more people were killed in separate strikes on the Al-Maghazi Camp and Rafah in the south.
- Two additional deaths occurred in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood of Gaza City.
Hamas’s Retaliatory Rocket Fire:
- In response to the airstrikes, Hamas fired two M90 rockets at Tel Aviv.
- One rocket fell into the sea, while the other did not reach Israeli territory.
- A statement from Hamas’s military wing declared, “We have bombed the city of Tel Aviv and its suburbs with two ‘M90’ missiles in response to the Zionist massacres against civilians and the deliberate displacement of our people.”
Ceasefire Talks Amid Escalating Conflict:
- The conflict initially erupted on October 7 when Hamas-led fighters launched an attack on Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages.
- A ceasefire deal is now being discussed, aiming to end the fighting and secure the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinians jailed in Israel.
- US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to participate in talks in Qatar, Egypt, and Israel as part of the effort to broker a truce.
- The Israeli government has expressed willingness to send a delegation to the talks, but Hamas insists on implementing the proposal rather than engaging in more negotiations.
- A Hamas official clarified, “Our statement the other day was clear: what is needed is the implementation, not more negotiation.”
Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza:
- Ghada, a mother of six from Deir Al-Balah, highlighted the desperate situation in Gaza, saying, “Enough, we are no longer able to tolerate the war, the starvation, and the frequent displacement…I hope this time they will reach a ceasefire. If they don’t, I don’t know how much longer we can survive.”
- The ongoing Israeli offensive in Gaza has killed nearly 40,000 Palestinians, leaving much of the region in ruins.
- Most of Gaza’s population is now displaced, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation in the region.
Sources:https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240813-hamas-fires-rockets-at-tel-aviv-after-19-killed-in-gaza/
