Yemen Missile Hits Tel Aviv, Sparking Retaliation
In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing conflict, a missile fired from Yemen struck an area near Tel Aviv early Saturday morning. The attack resulted in minor injuries to 30 peopel, primarily from shattered glass, according to the Israeli military. The incident occurred just before 4 a.m.local time,triggering air raid sirens across the city before the projectile impacted.
The Houthi rebels, who control much of northern Yemen, claimed responsibility for the attack via thier Telegram channel. They stated that a hypersonic ballistic missile targeted a military installation, though they did not specify the location. This brazen act follows closely on the heels of israeli airstrikes on Sanaa and Hodeida,Yemen,on Thursday,which resulted in at least nine fatalities.
Israel launched the Thursday strikes in response to a previous Houthi missile attack that damaged a school building in Ramat Gan, a suburb of Tel Aviv. the Houthis also claimed responsibility for a drone strike targeting an unspecified military site in central Israel on Thursday. The Israeli military has reported that the Iran-backed houthis have launched over 200 missiles and drones during the recent conflict in Gaza.
The Houthis have also targeted shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, vowing to continue these attacks until a ceasefire is reached in Gaza. The UN spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, stated that the Israeli strikes on Thursday caused “considerable damage” to Houthi-controlled Red sea ports, significantly reducing their capacity. The port of Hodeida is crucial for delivering food aid to Yemen, a nation grappling with a decade-long civil war.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern that the escalating attacks risk further regional instability and hinder UN mediation efforts. Meanwhile, in Gaza, funerals were held Saturday for 19 people, including 12 children, killed in Israeli airstrikes on Friday and overnight. One notably devastating strike hit a residential building in the Nuseirat refugee camp, killing at least seven Palestinians, including five children and a woman, and injuring 16 others, according to health officials.
Gaza Conflict: Mounting Civilian Casualties Fuel International outcry
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to deepen, marked by a surge in civilian deaths amidst the ongoing conflict. A recent Israeli airstrike on a Gaza City home resulted in the tragic loss of twelve lives, including seven children and two women, according to reports from Ahli Hospital.
Heartbreaking scenes unfolded Saturday morning at the hospital as mourners gathered to grieve. Women wept openly, finding solace in each other’s embrace. The image of one man solemnly carrying a tiny, shrouded body in the funeral procession is a stark reminder of the devastating human cost of this protracted conflict.
Similar scenes of grief played out at aqsa Hospital in Deir al Balah, where bodies recovered from Nuseirat were prepared for burial.The sight of white body bags loaded onto the back of an open truck underscored the scale of the tragedy.
Israel is facing intense international pressure over the unprecedented number of civilian casualties. Concerns are mounting regarding the effectiveness of measures taken to minimize civilian harm. The Israeli government maintains that its strikes target only militants, attributing civilian deaths to Hamas fighters operating within residential areas. “Israel says it only strikes militants and blames the Hamas militant group for civilian deaths as its fighters operate in residential areas.”
The death toll in Gaza since October 2023, when a Hamas attack in Israel triggered the current conflict, has surpassed 45,200.This 14-month war has claimed approximately 1,200 lives in Israel. Local health officials, while unable to definitively distinguish between combatants and civilians, report that over half of the fatalities in Gaza are women and children.
The escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza demands urgent international attention and a renewed commitment to finding a peaceful resolution. The sheer number of civilian casualties,particularly women and children,underscores the urgent need for a path towards de-escalation and lasting peace.
