Armed wing of Hamas says it fired rockets at Tel Aviv

The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said this Sunday (May 26, 2024) that it had launched a “rocket series” towards Tel Aviv. It was the first time in 4 months that alarm sirens sounded in the capital of Israel.

In a statement cited by the news agency Reutersthe armed wing of Hamas declared that the rockets were launched in response to what they called “Zionist massacres against civilians”. The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) has been carrying out raids in Rafah, a city south of the Gaza Strip that has become a shelter for Palestinians trying to flee the war.

On Telegram, the IDF said that “8 projectiles were identified crossing the Rafah area into Israeli territory”. According to the military, “several” were intercepted by the Air Forces.

Israel returned to bombing Rafah on Saturday (May 25). The action took place one day after the ICJ (International Court of Justice), the main judicial body of the UN (United Nations), determined that Tel Aviv could only maintain military actions in the region in order to protect against what they consider threats from Hamas and to attempt to free hostages. The body declared that the operations could not result in what could be considered genocide.

DECISION ON RAFAH

The ICJ’s measure was taken after a request from the South African government, which accused Israel of committing genocide. Benjamin Netanyahu’s government rejected the accusation and declared it was acting in self-defense.

In addition to suspending military activities, the Court ordered Israel to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid across the border with Egypt and ensure access for international observers to monitor the situation. Israel must also report to the ICJ, within a month, the actions taken to comply with the order.

In response, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declared that the country does not accept the decision: “Those who demand that the State of Israel stop the war demand that it decree that it cease to exist. We won’t agree to this”.

The attacks on Rafah are a cause for concern among the international community due to the large number of civilians who have taken shelter there.

UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees) said an additional 800,000 people have left Rafah since Israel began attacking the city in early May. On May 21, the agency said it had suspended food distribution in Rafah due to a lack of supplies and insecurity.

Israel began to control the Palestinian part of the Gaza Strip’s border with Egypt, located in Rafah. The passage was the main entry point for humanitarian aid into the enclave.