Hamas Fires 10 Rockets at Israel

Hamas fired 10 rockets into southern Israel on Sunday night, injuring at least one man. This is the terrorist group’s largest attack since the collapse of the ceasefire last month.

Five of the missiles were intercepted by Israel’s air defense, but others struck civilian areas, with one directly hitting an area of high-rise apartments in Ashkelon. A 30-year-old man was injured by rocket shrapnel and taken to the hospital. Two other people were hurt while running to shelter.

Washington: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was briefed on the attack while he was on his way to the United States to meet with President Donald Trump.

Netanyahu ordered the Israel Defense Forces to “deal a very powerful blow to Hamas in Gaza in response to the [rocket] fire.”

Netanyahu and President Trump are expected to discuss the collapse of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire during their meeting this week, as well as the 59 hostages still held by Hamas; Iran, which backs and funds Hamas; and tariffs.

What next? The war resumed when the ceasefire, brokered by the U.S., fell through in mid-March. Israel has since increased its attacks on Hamas; it is either working to eliminate Hamas completely or trying to push Hamas into another ceasefire. The more Hamas attacks Israel, the more likely Israel will want a ceasefire.

Trump’s advice to Netanyahu during their meeting will likely have a huge influence on which path Israel ends up choosing.

Learn more: Read “The Gaza Ceasefire Is Over.”