Hamas says it has launched a “big” rocket attack at the Tel Aviv area in central Israel.
At least eight rockets were launched from the Rafah area in southern Gaza, the Israeli military said, adding that several were intercepted. No injuries were reported.
It is the first time in nearly four months that Hamas has attacked central Israel, and comes as Israel carries out amilitary operation in Rafah, defying a ruling by the UN’s top court.
It also comes as truce talks aimed at ending the conflict are expected to resume on Tuesday.
A degree of normality had returned to Tel Aviv – the economic centre of Israel – since it was last attacked in January.
Sirens also sounded in other Israeli cities and towns, including Herzliya and Petah Tikva.
Israeli media published footage of missile fragments in the garden of a building in Herzliya.
Other footage appeared to show shrapnel damage to a bedroom in a house.
A different video showed a large crater apparently created by a rocket in an open area near the central town of Kfar Saba.
The military wing of Hamas, the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, announced the attack on its Telegram channel.
It did not confirm the attack was launched from Rafah – where fighting has been reported near the Kuwaiti Hospital.
Palestinian media reported that at least one person had been killed and several others injured in an Israeli air strike on a residential home in central Rafah.
The reports said many of the wounded were taken to the Kuwaiti Hospital.
Israel launched an offensive on the southern city of Gaza about three weeks ago, vowing to annihilate the remaining Hamas battalions there.
According to the United Nations, more than 800,000 Palestinians have fled southern cities. About 1.5 million people had been evacuated from fighting elsewhere in the Gaza Strip.
Israel’s military operations in Gaza began after Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7, killing approximately 1,200 people and returning the remaining 252 to Gaza as hostages.
At least 35,800 Palestinians have died in the war since then, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.
The attack may be an attempt by Hamas to demonstrate its strength ahead of new negotiations to end the conflict expected to begin on Tuesday, or to derail them. Maybe.