The Israeli military has issued evacuation orders for some residential areas in northwest Gaza following rocket attacks by Palestinian militants on the Israeli town of Ashkelon. A rocket attack triggered air raid sirens in Ashkelon, with the military intercepting one projectile while another landed in the sea. This marks the latest in a series of evacuations in northern Gaza, with the territory’s largest city also being evacuated since the conflict began with Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7.
Most residents have complied with the evacuation orders, moving south, but up to 300,000 people have remained in the heavily affected north of Gaza, which has faced significant destruction due to Israeli air and ground operations. The area has been surrounded by Israeli forces and largely isolated since October. The ongoing conflict has led to around 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million population being displaced multiple times, with hundreds of thousands currently living in crowded tent camps with limited access to public services.
In other news, the death toll from Israeli strikes on Syria has risen to 14, with over 40 individuals wounded, as reported by Syrian state media on Monday morning. The strikes targeted several areas in central Syria late Sunday, causing damage to a highway in Hama province and igniting fires. The initial death toll reported from a hospital in western Hamas province was four, but it has since increased to 14 killed and 43 wounded.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated that one of the strikes hit a scientific research center in Maysaf along with other locations where Iranian militias and experts are reportedly stationed for weapon development in Syria. Media sources also mentioned strikes around Tartous, a coastal city. Israel, known for carrying out numerous strikes in government-controlled parts of Syria, particularly targeting Syrian forces and Iranian-backed groups, has not provided immediate comments on these incidents. Israel’s actions in Syria are often aimed at preventing Iranian influence in the region.
