The Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas, announced on Tuesday, August 13th, 2024, that they had fired two rockets at Tel Aviv and its surrounding areas in central Israel. This marks the first such attack since May 26th.

In a brief statement, the Qassam Brigades declared that the attack, using two M90 rockets, was a response to "the Zionist massacres against civilians and the deliberate displacement of our people in the Gaza Strip."

This is the first time rockets have been launched from Gaza towards Tel Aviv since May 26th, according to Turkish news agency Anadolu.

Israeli media reported hearing a loud explosion in Tel Aviv, while the Israeli military confirmed detecting a rocket launch from the Gaza Strip. The rocket fell into the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of central Israel, without triggering any sirens.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated in a written statement, as reported by Anadolu, that "a rocket projectile was launched from the Gaza Strip and landed in the Mediterranean Sea in the center of the country. No sirens were activated in accordance with the established policy."

The IDF added that "simultaneously, another projectile was detected, but it did not breach Israeli sovereignty."

Israeli media, including Channel 12, cited Tel Aviv and central Israel residents who reported hearing a loud explosion.

The Qassam Brigades' attack on Tel Aviv comes over 10 months after the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, during which the Israeli military has been unable to completely halt rocket fire from the territory, despite a relative decrease.

Since October 7th, 2023, Israel has waged a devastating war on the Gaza Strip with full US support, resulting in over 132,000 Palestinian casualties, including many children and women, and over 10,000 missing persons. The conflict has also caused widespread destruction and a severe famine.

Israel continues this war despite a United Nations Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire and orders from the International Court of Justice instructing Israel to take measures to prevent acts of genocide and improve the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza.