Tensions flared again on Sunday as approximately 10 rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip toward southern Israel, marking the largest barrage in several months, according to the Israeli military. 

Most of the rockets were intercepted, but some landed in Ashdod and Ashkelon, causing injuries and significant property damage.

Israeli media confirmed that air raid sirens sounded in both cities shortly after the rockets were fired. Israeli Channel 13 reported three people wounded in Ashkelon, while Channel 12 noted that one of the rockets caused extensive damage to buildings and vehicles.

Hamas's Qassam Brigades Claim Responsibility

The Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, claimed responsibility for the attack, stating it was retaliation for recent Israeli airstrikes that they said targeted civilians in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli emergency services responded to at least four sites where rocket debris was reported, with officials working to assess the full extent of the damage.

Israeli Officials React: "End Hamas"

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich responded to the rocket attack by reaffirming the government’s position:

“The rocket fire from Gaza reminds us that we must not stop until Hamas is eliminated.”

The frequency of rocket fire from Gaza into Israel has decreased in recent months, compared to the heavy exchanges that began after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israeli border communities — an assault that triggered the ongoing war.

Rising Civilian Toll in Gaza

Meanwhile, the Gaza Ministry of Health announced on Sunday that the death toll from Israeli military operations since October 7 has risen to 50,695, with 115,338 wounded.

In a press release issued on Facebook, the ministry reported that between March 18 and today, there have been 1,335 deaths and 3,297 injuries.

Protests Against Hamas in Gaza

In a notable development, demonstrations erupted in the Jabalia refugee camp on Sunday, with protesters calling on Hamas to leave Gaza. This is the latest in a series of public expressions of frustration from residents amid deteriorating humanitarian conditions and ongoing conflict.