Hamas fires rockets at Israel as war resumes, death toll soars

Hamas launched rockets at Israel on Thursday, marking its first response to the renewed Israeli offensive that shattered a two-month ceasefire in Gaza. The Israeli military reported that three projectiles were fired at central Israel, with one intercepted and two falling in open areas without causing casualties.

The Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing, confirmed the attack, stating it had “bombed the city of Tel Aviv deep inside the occupied territories with a barrage of M90 rockets” in retaliation for Israeli strikes.

Israel has also faced attacks from Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who claimed responsibility for firing a ballistic missile at the country in response to the renewed war in Gaza. Israel’s military said it intercepted the missile, marking the second such attack since the ceasefire collapsed.

The latest escalation follows Israel’s resumption of airstrikes on Tuesday, followed by a ground invasion the next day. The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza reports that over 500 people, including 200 children, have been killed since the offensive began. The toll is expected to rise as many remain trapped under rubble.

Israel blames Hamas for the renewed fighting, accusing the group of rejecting revised ceasefire terms. Hamas, however, contends that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unilaterally broke the truce, putting hostages “at risk of an unknown fate.”

Netanyahu faced a wave of protests in Jerusalem on Wednesday, where thousands gathered outside the Knesset to denounce the war’s resumption. Protesters accuse the prime minister of reigniting the conflict to stabilize his fragile coalition, which has been on the brink of collapse.

The political maneuvering intensified after far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir announced his return to Netanyahu’s government. Ben-Gvir had quit in January when Israel agreed to a ceasefire but swiftly rejoined after Tuesday’s airstrikes, saying he was “happy to return after two months of respite.” His comeback strengthens Netanyahu’s coalition as the prime minister races to pass Israel’s next budget before a March 31 deadline to avoid fresh elections.

Meanwhile, Israel has expanded its military operations in Gaza. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said it has retaken the Netzarim Corridor, effectively splitting Gaza in half. On Thursday, the IDF launched two additional ground offensives: one in Rafah’s al-Shaboura refugee camp, where it claimed to have dismantled “terrorist” infrastructure, and another along the coastal route in northern Beit Lahia.

Israeli airstrikes on Beit Lahia preceded the ground invasion, with the IDF claiming to have targeted Hamas “infrastructure and anti-tank missile launch sites.” The Gaza Civil Defense said more than 50 people were killed in the attacks, including 15 members of the Abu Nasr family whose home was hit in the Al-Salatin neighborhood.

A resident of Beit Lahia, Mufida Abu Nasr, described the horror of the strikes as they unfolded during suhoor, the pre-dawn Ramadan meal.

“My children began to scream, and I was also terrified because I lost my son just 40 days ago; he was martyred,” she told CNN. “When we went outside, we found that our relatives and neighbors had all been martyred.”

As the conflict deepens, fears grow that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza will worsen, with no sign of a ceasefire on the horizon.