Two rockets originating from the northern Gaza Strip were fired at Tel Aviv, Israel, for the first time in nearly five years.
UPDATE, 9:00 p.m. EST – Israeli officials have blamed Hamas for the rocket attacks.
“We can confirm that the rockets fired from #Gaza at #TelAviv earlier tonight were launched by the Hamas terrorist organization,” the Israel Defense Forces tweeted.
We can confirm that the rockets fired from #Gaza at #TelAviv earlier tonight were launched by the Hamas terrorist organization.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 15, 2019
Israel launched retaliatory fire at Gaza a few hours after the initial rocket strikes.
“We have just started striking terror sites in Gaza. Details to follow,” the IDF tweeted.
We have just started striking terror sites in Gaza. Details to follow.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 14, 2019
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The two rockets were fired on Thursday night, sending the city into alert, but no injuries were reported, the New York Times reported.
Video has surfaced from Israelis who witnessed the glow of the rockets in the night sky, and captured the boom of the rockets’ explosions.
Alarms blared throughout the city for the first time in two years when a false alarm took place. The last time Gaza-originated rockets were fired into Israel was 2014.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry posted a statement confirming the incident: “Two rockets were launched from #Gaza towards Israel tonight. The alert & warning systems operated as required. No interceptions were made by aerial defense systems. No damage or injuries were reported.”
➡UPDATE:
Two rockets were launched from #Gaza towards Israel tonight.The alert & warning systems operated as required.
No interceptions were made by aerial defense systems. No damage or injuries were reported.
🔊 TURN SOUND ONpic.twitter.com/2Q4C5TZbLz
— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) March 14, 2019
No organization or group has come forth to claim responsibility for the attack.
U.S. Special Envoy Jason Greenblatt blamed Hamas for the attack.
“Hamas violently suppresses its own people demonstrating against Hamas’ rule & failures today and NOW fires rockets at cities in Israel. OUTRAGEOUS! This is what prevents the world from helping the people of Gaza! We strongly support Israel in defense of its citizens. Always!” he said in a tweet.
Hamas violently suppresses its own people demonstrating against Hamas’ rule & failures today and NOW fires rockets at cities in Israel. OUTRAGEOUS! This is what prevents the world from helping the people of Gaza! We strongly support Israel in defense of its citizens. Always!
— Jason D. Greenblatt (@jdgreenblatt45) March 14, 2019
Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai directed city authorities to open all bomb shelters throughout the city after the attacks, according to Times of Israel
