In a prolonged conflict that has gripped the region, Israel continues to endure rocket attacks from Gaza, with Hamas and its affiliates persistently targeting Israeli territories. Despite Israel’s efforts to dismantle Hamas’s military capabilities, the group has maintained its offensive, launching approximately 12,000 rockets since the onset of the conflict on October 7, a significant portion of which were fired on the first day.
The Israeli government’s air defense systems have successfully intercepted most rockets, mitigating the impact on Israeli soil. However, the persistence of these attacks underscores the extent of Hamas’s arsenal and its capability to threaten major Israeli cities. The conflict, now stretching over three months, has resulted in the death of 15 Israelis and injuries to around 700, as reported by Israel’s emergency services.
For residents in southern Israel, near the Gaza border, rocket attacks have become a distressing routine. The war has expanded this threat to a national scale, with air raid sirens becoming a common occurrence even in central cities like Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The psychological impact of these sirens was poignantly expressed by Hannah Reback, a 24-year-old in Tel Aviv, who recounted the distress of seeing mothers and babies rushing to shelters.
In contrast to the Israeli casualties, the Gaza Strip has faced a significantly higher death toll, with Gazan health officials reporting over 20,000 fatalities. The Israeli military has acknowledged striking 15,000 targets in Gaza, though the specifics of these operations remain undisclosed.
Israeli officials argue that the continued rocket attacks from Gaza demonstrate Hamas’s intent to terrorize Israeli civilians. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari of the Israeli military emphasized the necessity of diminishing Hamas’s rocket-firing capabilities to prevent further attacks on Israeli citizens.
The Israeli military has focused on targeting Hamas’s strike capabilities throughout the conflict, claiming operational control in northern Gaza and noting a recent decrease in rocket barrages. The military has also accused Hamas of using civilian areas, including hospitals and neighborhoods, as shields for their military operations. This claim, however, has been vehemently denied by Zaher Jabareen, a member of the Hamas political leadership.
Israel’s Iron Dome defense system, operational since 2011, has played a crucial role in reducing fatalities from rocket strikes. However, it is not infallible, and shrapnel from intercepted rockets can still cause harm. The majority of Hamas’s rockets are locally made and short-range, contrasting with the more sophisticated weaponry used by the Israeli military.
Human Rights Watch reported that 10 to 20 percent of Hamas’s rockets fail and fall back into Gaza, occasionally resulting in Palestinian casualties. In Israel, the Barzilai hospital in Ashkelon, a frequent target of rocket fire, has sustained damage during the conflict, though preemptive evacuation measures have prevented injuries.
This ongoing conflict, marked by its intensity and the toll on both sides, continues to challenge the region’s stability and peace prospects.
