Video of the Aftermath
Black smoke can be seen billowing from behind the residential buildings, no reports yet of any injured. Palestinian Islamist terror groups, primarily Hamas and Islamic Jihad, have been involved in firing rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory, targeting civilian areas as part of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This activity has been a significant source of tension and conflict between Israel and Palestinian terror groups.
Palestinian Islamist Terror Groups and Rockets
Hamas is a Palestinian Islamist political organization and terror group that has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007. It is designated as a terrorist organization by several countries, including the United States and European Union. Islamic Jihad is another Palestinian Islamist terror group that operates in the Gaza Strip and is also designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and European Union.
The firing of rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel has resulted in casualties and damage to property. The rockets are often homemade and lack precision, making them indiscriminate weapons that pose a significant threat to civilians even inside Gaza when the rockets misfire (see Gaza City’s Baptist Hospital blast) . In response to rocket and various terror attacks and massacres, Israel has conducted military operations in the Gaza Strip, targeting Hamas and Islamic Jihad infrastructure and personnel.
The firing of rockets into Israel by Palestinian militant groups is widely condemned by the international community, which views it as a violation of international law.
Featured image: Anas-Mohammed / Shutterstock.com
