Did Islamic Jihad Launch Rockets at Israel in Retaliation for Gaza Hospital Strikes?

Synopsis
In a dramatic escalation, the Al-Quds Brigades of Islamic Jihad have retaliated against Israel, launching rockets after airstrikes that devastated the Gaza European Hospital. This exchange has intensified the ongoing conflict, shedding light on the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. Read on for an in-depth analysis of the latest developments.
Key Takeaways
- Rocket attacks launched by Islamic Jihad as a response to airstrikes.
- Israeli military intercepted multiple rockets without significant damage.
- Evacuations ordered in central Gaza ahead of potential strikes.
- Israeli airstrikes resulted in multiple casualties at the Gaza European Hospital.
- Strikes aimed at Hamas leadership and infrastructure.
Gaza, May 14 (NationPress) The Al-Quds Brigades, the militant faction of the Islamic Jihad organization, declared that they executed rocket strikes against Israeli urban areas as a reaction to the Israeli air assaults on the Gaza European Hospital located in Khan Younis, in the southern region of the Gaza Strip.
The Al-Quds Brigades stated, "We launched assaults on Ashdod, Ashkelon, Sderot, and nearby Israeli settlements as a retaliation for the Israeli atrocities committed against our Palestinian populace."
A representative from the group mentioned that the objective of the attack was to showcase "the resistance's capability to respond decisively to Israeli offensives."
Reports from Israeli media indicated that alarms were triggered in multiple locations across southern Israel, including Ashdod, Ashkelon, and Sderot.
Avichay Adraee, the spokesperson for the Israeli military, stated that two rockets launched from the Gaza Strip were intercepted, while a third fell into an uninhabited area, causing no injuries or significant damages.
In response to the rocket strikes, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) directed residents of Jabalia city, the refugee camp, and nearby districts in central Gaza to evacuate immediately in preparation for an impending Israeli strike, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
Residents were urged to move to safety in the shelter centers located in Gaza City.
This rocket assault occurred shortly after a series of intense Israeli airstrikes targeted the vicinity of the Gaza European Hospital, which Palestinian sources claimed led to severe destruction and significant casualties.
According to Gaza-based health authorities, at least six Palestinians lost their lives and 40 more sustained injuries due to the Israeli airstrikes, as stated on Tuesday.
The IDF asserted that the strike targeted a concealed Hamas command center. They accused Hamas of utilizing hospitals in Gaza to hide militant resources.
Israeli state broadcaster Kan and other news outlets reported that the strike aimed at Hamas operative Mohammed Sinwar, the younger sibling of former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by Israeli forces in southern Gaza in October of the previous year. It remains uncertain whether Mohammed Sinwar was among the casualties.