Al-Qassam Brigades announce rocket attack on Ben Gurion Airport

ISTANBUL

Hamas' military wing, the Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades, claimed responsibility early Monday for a rocket attack on Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv.

The Al-Qassam Brigades announced on Telegram that they launched a rocket attack on the airport in response to ongoing Israeli attacks on civilians in Gaza.

The statement also stressed that as part of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, 100 rockets were fired at the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon.

The military wing of Islamic Jihad, the Al-Quds Brigades, also said in an announcement that Tel Aviv and Ashkelon were targeted with rockets.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military announced that sirens had sounded in the central region of the country, including Greater Tel Aviv.

Israel's Channel 12 confirmed that numerous rockets had been fired from Gaza towards Ashkelon.

The Tel-Aviv-based Yediot Aharonot newspaper also reported that a rocket fired from Gaza had struck a building in Ashkelon.

The Israeli side has not yet confirmed the attack on Ben Gurion Airport or whether any rockets had impacted.

Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on Saturday, saying the surprise multifront attack on Israel was in response to the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and increased settler violence. It said it fired rockets and captured many Israelis.

In retaliation, the Israeli army initiated Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

At least 417 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 2,200 others injured in the attacks, according to medical sources in Gaza, while the Israeli death toll has climbed to over 700.

*Writing by Necva Tastan