Throughout the day on Thursday, Hamas and the Houthis fired rockets at Israel.
By Rachel Avraham
At 4:00am on Thursday morning, Israelis across the country were forced from their beds, as the Houthis fired rockets at Jerusalem, Jaffa, Tel Aviv, Bat Yam, Herzliya, Modiin, Hod Ha-Sharon, Abu Ghosh, Bet Shemesh, Rosh Ha-Ayin, Ramla, Ra’anana, Ramat Gan, Jerusalem, and a series of other cities across Central Israel and the Jerusalem area. Arutz Sheva reported that the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said that a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted by the IAF prior to crossing into Israeli territory and that the sirens were sounded in accordance with protocol.
Later on in the afternoon, Hamas fired three rockets at Rishon Etzion, Ramat Gan, Or Yehuda, Tel Aviv, and a variety of other places in Israel. The Times of Israel reported that one of the rockets was intercepted by air defenses, while the other two struck open areas. According to the report, no injuries were caused, though several pieces of shrapnel hit areas of Rishon LeZion. The Times of Israel claims that it was unclear whether they’d broken off of the Hamas rockets or the interceptors, but no major damage was caused.
However, Arutz Sheva reported that in Givatayim, a 50-year-old man was injured as he ran to the shelter. As he entered the bomb shelter, his finger was caught in the door and severed. According to the report, the man was evacuated to Sheba Tel Hashomer Hospital with light to moderate injuries. Arutz Sheva added that MDA medics and paramedics provided medical treatment to approximately 13 people injured while heading to shelter and to three individuals suffering from anxiety.
The Times of Israel reported that this incident marks the first rocket attack from Gaza directed at Israel in several months. During the recent ceasefire period, Hamas made two attempted rocket launches that failed and landed within Gaza’s borders rather than reaching Israeli territory, according to the report. Thus, this was the first time in recent months that their rockets managed to reach Israel.
Later in the evening, the rocket fire resumed. At 7:30pm, the Houthis fired at Abu Ghosh, Efrat, Gush Etzion, Hebron, Kiryat Arba, Modiin, Ramla, Jerusalem, and a variety of other locations. The IDF told Arutz Sheva, “Sirens sounded in a number of areas in Israel following a projectile that was launched from Yemen. The details are under review.”
The military later added, “Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in a number of areas in Israel, a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted by the IAF prior to crossing into Israeli territory. Sirens were sounded in accordance with protocol.” Israel’s emergency response service, Magen David Adom (MDA), said no injuries were reported apart from several individuals suffering from anxiety, the Jerusalem Post reported.
These latest attacks come as the cease-fire collapsed between Israel and Hamas, after Hamas adamantly refused to agree to the Witkoff formula to extend phase one of the cease-fire and to release more living hostages. Following deadlock in the talks, Israel resumed its strikes on Gaza in order to pressure Hamas into freeing additional hostages. Around the same period of time, Hamas has been making preparations for other invasions into Israeli territory, N12 reported. In light of that development, Israel took pre-emptive action and this led to Hamas and the Houthis renewing the rocket fire.
