Rockets continue to be launched from the Gaza Strip and into the Eshkol and Shaar Hanegev regions of Israel on March 25 after Hamas claims that a ceasefire agreement had been forged.
The Times of Israel reports that Hamas made that announcement at 10 p.m. Israeli time; however, rocket fire from Gaza continued after that time. A total of 30 rockets had been fired from Gaza into Israel before Hamas’ declaration; it has not yet been specified how many rockets have been fired since then.
There have been reports that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have launched another round of retaliatory strikes, which the IDF has not yet confirmed.
The latest batch of rocket-fire exchange between Israel and Hamas started at 5:20 a.m. on March 25, when two rockets fired from Gaza struck Tel Aviv, resulting in the destruction of a home in Mishmeret and injuring seven people. Israel retaliated by striking several Hamas targets in Gaza, prompting further rocket fire from Gaza. No Israelis have been reported injured from the latest round of Gaza rockets.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to be back in Israel on March 26 after cutting his trip to the AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) Policy Conference short as a result of the rocket fire.
“We gave a very strong, very powerful response,” Netanyahu said. “Hamas needs to know that we will not hesitate to enter and take the necessary steps.”
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