Fresh barrage of Gaza rocket fire hits Israeli cities overnight
- 3 years ago
A fresh barrage of rockets hit the Israeli cities of Ashkelon and Sderot on Wednesday, causing damage to houses and vehicles.
Local residents rushed to bomb shelters while rockets were seen being intercepted in the sky by Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system over Ashkelon.
Israel and Gaza militants vowed to keep fighting after US President Joe Biden urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to seek a "de-escalation" on the path to a ceasefire in the conflict.
An Egyptian security source said the two sides had agreed in principle to a ceasefire after help from mediators, although details were still being negotiated in secret amid public denials of a deal to prevent it from collapsing.
Palestinian health officials said that since fighting began on May 10, 228 people had been killed in aerial bombardments that have worsened an already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Israeli authorities put the death toll at 12 in Israel, where repeated rocket attacks have caused panic and sent people rushing into shelters.
In Gaza, the sounds of explosions roared at nightfall with heavy bombardments reported in the enclave's centre and south.
Hamas began firing rockets on May 10 in retaliation for what it said were Israeli rights abuses against Palestinians in Jerusalem during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
The rocket attacks followed Israeli security police clashes with worshippers at al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and a court case by Israeli settlers to evict Palestinians from a neighbourhood in Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem.
Local residents rushed to bomb shelters while rockets were seen being intercepted in the sky by Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system over Ashkelon.
Israel and Gaza militants vowed to keep fighting after US President Joe Biden urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to seek a "de-escalation" on the path to a ceasefire in the conflict.
An Egyptian security source said the two sides had agreed in principle to a ceasefire after help from mediators, although details were still being negotiated in secret amid public denials of a deal to prevent it from collapsing.
Palestinian health officials said that since fighting began on May 10, 228 people had been killed in aerial bombardments that have worsened an already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Israeli authorities put the death toll at 12 in Israel, where repeated rocket attacks have caused panic and sent people rushing into shelters.
In Gaza, the sounds of explosions roared at nightfall with heavy bombardments reported in the enclave's centre and south.
Hamas began firing rockets on May 10 in retaliation for what it said were Israeli rights abuses against Palestinians in Jerusalem during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
The rocket attacks followed Israeli security police clashes with worshippers at al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and a court case by Israeli settlers to evict Palestinians from a neighbourhood in Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem.