Hamas Launches Rockets Toward Israel From Cover of Gaza Humanitarian Zone: IDF

Hamas terrorists have launched rockets toward Israel from a supposed “humanitarian zone” in Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces claimed Saturday, in what the IDF says is an exploitation of cover among Palestinian civilians.

Several rockets were fired Friday from southern Gaza’s al-Mawasi area, which has been designated as a safe haven for civilians fleeing the fighting, the Times of Israel reported, citing the IDF.

The aerial assault began with two failed launches Friday afternoon, which fell short of Israel but instead “landed in the Gaza Strip and endangered many citizens,” the IDF reportedly said.

In a third launch from al-Mawasi around 6 p.m. local time, “Hamas terrorists launched numerous rockets into Israel from the designated humanitarian zone,” according to the IDF.

It was not immediately clear whether any of the launches inflicted casualties, civilian or otherwise.

But they did make clear, the IDF said, that Hamas has not abandoned its practice of conducting military operations from the perceived cover of Palestinian civilians.

“This is further proof that Hamas exploits the IDF’s humanitarian zone for terrorist activity,” the IDF said.

The launches came as Israel continued its military offensive in retaliation for Hamas’ Oct. 7 terror attacks, which saw some 1,200 people killed, another 240 taken hostage and atrocities committed against civilians.

According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, more than 17,400 people have been killed in the territory since Oct. 7. The ministry does not differentiate between civilian and militant deaths but has said that the majority of those killed are women and children.

Overnight Friday into Saturday, Israel kept up its own assault, with warplanes unleashing relentless bombardments of Gaza, including some of the dwindling slivers of land Palestinians had been told to evacuate to in the territory’s south.

The latest strikes came a day after the United States vetoed a United Nations resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza, despite it being backed by the vast majority of Security Council members and many other nations. The vote in the 15-member council was 13-1, with the United Kingdom abstaining.

Gaza’s borders with Israel and Egypt are effectively sealed, leaving Palestinians with no option other than to try to seek refuge within the territory.

As fighting resumed after a brief truce more than a week ago — which saw about 100 of the approximately 240 hostages freed — the U.S. urged Israel to do more to protect civilians and allow more aid to besieged Gaza. The appeals came as Israel expanded its blistering air and ground campaign into southern Gaza, especially the southern city of Khan Younis, sending tens of thousands more fleeing.

"It was a night of heavy gunfire and shelling as every night,” Taha Abdel-Rahman, a Khan Younis resident, said by phone early Saturday.

With Associated Press