In a sharp escalation of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, the Palestinian militant group Hamas fired a barrage of rockets at southern Israeli cities on Sunday, a retaliatory move following the deaths of civilians in Gaza due to Israeli airstrikes.
The Israeli military reported that around ten rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip, with most of them being intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system. However, one person was injured by shrapnel, and emergency services were on alert, responding to fallen rockets and treating the wounded.
This attack comes on the heels of a deadly Israeli airstrike campaign in Gaza, which killed at least 39 Palestinians on Sunday, according to local health authorities. The airstrikes were part of Israel’s ongoing military operations against Hamas, which it blames for the rocket attacks and other acts of aggression.
The attack marks another chapter in the protracted conflict between Israel and Hamas, a Palestinian militant group that controls the Gaza Strip. The violence comes after months of fluctuating tensions, despite an initial ceasefire agreement reached in January 2025. That ceasefire, which lasted only a short time, brought a brief respite to the region after 15 months of heavy fighting.
However, the situation quickly deteriorated again in March 2025 when Israel resumed ground operations in Gaza, citing the threat posed by Hamas and its fighters. Both sides have accused each other of undermining the ceasefire efforts, with Israel blaming Hamas for continuing to launch rocket attacks while Hamas accuses Israel of violating the ceasefire terms by escalating its airstrikes on Gaza.
Since the beginning of Israel’s offensive in October 2023, over 50,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to Palestinian officials. The death toll on the Israeli side is also significant, with 1,200 Israelis killed during Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, and hundreds of hostages taken.
The ongoing violence has left both sides embroiled in a bitter and unrelenting conflict, with little hope for a peaceful resolution in sight. For many in the region, the cycle of retaliation has become a devastating and never-ending reality.
In response to the rocket attacks, the Israeli military issued a fresh round of evacuation orders for residents in Gaza. On Sunday evening, Israel’s military ordered people in several districts of the Deir Al-Balah area, located in central Gaza, to leave immediately, warning that military strikes were imminent.
The evacuation orders, which came just after the rocket fire, were framed as a “final warning” before further Israeli military action. The Israeli military claimed to have successfully targeted the rocket launcher from which the projectiles were fired, signaling a continuation of its aggressive strategy against Hamas.
This escalation has raised alarms over the increasing civilian casualties in Gaza, where Israel’s military strikes have been heavily concentrated. With the region’s infrastructure severely damaged and medical facilities overwhelmed, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was on a flight to Washington for talks with US President Donald Trump, was briefed on the rocket attack by Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz. Netanyahu, in a statement from his office, ordered a “vigorous response” to the rocket fire and approved the continuation of Israel’s intensive military activity against Hamas.
The Israeli government’s stance is firm: it will not tolerate any attacks from Hamas, viewing the group’s actions as a direct threat to Israel’s security. In the wake of the attack, Netanyahu’s office reiterated that Israel would take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of its citizens.
Meanwhile, global powers have expressed concern over the growing violence. While the US has long been an ally of Israel, offering military and diplomatic support, other international actors, including the United Nations and various Arab states, have called for a cessation of hostilities and a return to peace talks. However, given the entrenched positions of both sides, prospects for an immediate resolution seem slim.
The humanitarian toll of the conflict is devastating. On the Palestinian side, more than 50,000 people have been killed since the start of the Israeli offensive in October 2023, with many more injured. In Gaza, where basic services have been disrupted, the civilian population is facing severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies. The continuous airstrikes have destroyed homes, schools, and hospitals, further exacerbating the already dire living conditions.
For Israelis, the situation is also perilous. The rocket fire from Hamas has targeted cities and towns in southern Israel, forcing residents to live in constant fear of more attacks. While the Iron Dome defense system has intercepted many of the rockets, the threat of further violence looms large.
The recent escalation follows the collapse of a fragile ceasefire that had briefly halted the violence earlier this year. Initially, the ceasefire agreement, brokered in January 2025, included a halt to fighting, the release of some Israeli hostages held by Hamas, and the freeing of Palestinian prisoners.
However, this ceasefire quickly faltered. In March, Israeli forces resumed military operations in Gaza, citing Hamas’s failure to adhere to the ceasefire terms and its continued military activity. Hamas, for its part, accused Israel of violating the ceasefire and continuing its attacks on Gaza’s civilian infrastructure.
The ongoing violence has left many in both Israel and Gaza grappling with the reality of a protracted conflict with no clear resolution in sight. For those caught in the middle, the cost of war has been immeasurable, with countless lives lost and communities shattered.
The future of the Israel-Hamas conflict remains uncertain. While both sides have expressed a willingness to continue fighting, the international community remains divided over how to bring an end to the violence. Calls for peace talks and negotiations have been made, but the political and military dynamics on the ground suggest that both sides are entrenched in their positions.
For Palestinians in Gaza, the ongoing Israeli airstrikes are seen as a form of collective punishment, with civilians bearing the brunt of the violence. For Israelis, the threat of Hamas rocket fire is an existential one, with the group continuing to target their cities and civilians.
As the conflict enters a new phase, the toll on both sides will likely continue to grow, and the prospects for peace seem ever more remote.
