JERUSALEM

Hamas's military wing said Tuesday it fired at least 30 rockets towards settlements in southern Israel, according to Israeli media and a local council.

The rockets are said to have launched from Gaza towards Israeli settlements in the border area.

The Ma'ariv newspaper said about half of the rockets were intercepted and the rest fell in open areas outside the towns.

The Ashkelon Regional Council, which includes 32 settlements, said the attack caused a fire in the Nahal HaBesor area and no injuries were reported.

The Al-Qassam Brigades said in a brief statement that they targeted the Re’im military base in southern Israel with a rocket barrage.

Israel has pounded the Gaza Strip in retaliation for an Oct. 7 Hamas attack, which killed about 1,200 people. Nearly 34,800 Palestinians have since been killed in Gaza, the vast majority of whom have been women and children, and 78,100 others injured, according to Palestinian health authorities.

Israel has seized control and closed the Rafah crossing in Gaza, raising concerns that already-scarce supplies will be further depleted.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio in Istanbul