As the new year began, Hamas launched rockets at Tel Aviv from the Gaza Strip, where Israel was bombing the Palestinian area.
Israel’s defense systems intercepted the rockets in the air, and journalists from different media outlets in Tel Aviv saw the scene. Some people who were celebrating ran to find cover, while others continued the party.
“My heart is pounding, I’m scared,” said Gabriel Zemelman, 26, who was with his friends on a busy street in Tel Aviv.
The Ezzedine al-Qassam brigades, the military branch of the terrorist group Hamas, said they attacked with M90 rockets to “retaliate for the killing of civilians” by Israel.
The Israeli army acknowledged the attack and said there were no injuries or damage at first.
In Gaza, Israel’s airstrikes killed at least 24 people overnight, according to the Health Ministry controlled by the terrorist Palestinian group, in raids throughout the area.
At the same time, international mediators were working to achieve a new ceasefire in the war.
A Hamas team went to Cairo on Friday to talk about an Egyptian proposal for renewable truces, gradual exchange of captives for the release of Palestinian prisoners, and the end of the war, sources close to the terrorists said.
Their partners of the Islamic Jihad said on Saturday that the Palestinian groups were “reviewing” the proposal and would reply soon.
The war in Gaza raised concerns of a broader regional conflict, with clashes in nearby countries with groups often supported by Iran.
The Israeli army said on Sunday night that it stopped two “enemy aircraft” launched from Syria towards northern Israel. It had earlier reported launches from Lebanon.
“During the day, IDF (Israel Defense Forces) tanks and helicopters attacked three terrorist groups in Lebanon,” the army said in a statement.
And in the Red Sea, the United States said on Sunday that its helicopters shot at boats of Houthi rebels near the coast of Yemen that were attacking a cargo ship.
Sources in Yemen said that 10 rebels were killed in the incidents.
