Rockets sent from Gaza rained down on Tel Aviv for the first time in months on Sunday, with Israeli media saying they were launched all the way from Rafah.
It also came as Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant visited IDF frontline positions on the outskirts of Rafah and vowed the military will forge ahead deeper into the southern city despite the Friday UN World Court order (ICJ) to implement an immediate ceasefire and to halt the Rafah offensive.
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| Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in Rafah on Sunday, via defense ministry |
"Our goals in Gaza are emphasized here in Rafah: to destroy Hamas, return the hostages and maintain freedom of operation," Gallant told the troops. "Regarding the hostage issue—we are making tremendous efforts and will continue to do so, via both physical activities and by reaching agreements."
He then vowed to carry out Netanyahu's order to not stop until Hamas is eradicated. "Remember, your job is to eliminate Hamas, to win this war. Our job is to take it [your achievement] and take it to the next level in Gaza and across the Middle East," he said. "These issues are connected."
The timing of the Hamas rocket attacks out of Tel Aviv are no doubt intent on sending a message of defiance. At least three rockets were intercepted but one home in a Tel Aviv suburb was damaged, and possibly more.
Times of Israel writes, "The Hamas terror group fired eight rockets at central Israel on Sunday afternoon, marking the most significant attack out of the Gaza Strip in some four months and underscoring some of the challenges remaining for the Israeli military as it seeks to oust the Palestinian group from its last major stronghold."
This likely further confirms for Israeli leadership the need to take Rafah, despite international condemnation including from UN agencies.
Israel believes that not only have Hamas leaders found refuge in Rafah, but that it's among the last locations where major rocket stockpiles exist, and there remains the possibility even of rocket manufacturing capabilities, but the IDF believes it has eradicated all the weapons-making factories at this point.
Heavy urban fighting has continued to be intense...
🚨🟢🔻new hamas video
— adam7867862 (@adam7867862) May 16, 2024
Watch a Mirkva tank being targeted with an “Al-Yassin 105” shell, and enemy concentrations being destroyed northeast of the city of Jabalia with mortar shells pic.twitter.com/aCoAwJYoW6
Later on Sunday one of Hamas armed wings, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, posted on Telegram it targeted Tel Aviv "with a large rocket barrage in response to the Zionist massacres against civilians."