Ceasefire?
Failed Rocket Launch from Gaza City Lands Near Hospital
According to the Israel Defense Forces, the failed launch originated from Gaza City and was intended for Israeli territory but malfunctioned and fell short, detonating inside Gaza near a hospital. No injuries in Israel were reported.
A rocket launched from the Gaza Strip exploded inside the enclave on Thursday in what Israel described as a serious violation of the ceasefire agreement.
According to the Israel Defense Forces, the failed launch originated from Gaza City and was intended for Israeli territory but malfunctioned and fell short, detonating inside Gaza near a hospital. No injuries in Israel were reported.
In a rapid response, Israeli forces carried out a targeted strike on the rocket launcher used in the launch. The IDF said the attack was conducted shortly after the failed firing was identified.
“The IDF identified a failed rocket launch from the Gaza City area toward Israeli territory,” the military said in a statement. “The projectile fell inside the Gaza Strip, near a hospital. In a swift closure of the circle, the IDF struck the launch site.”
Israel blamed the incident on Hamas, saying the group continues to violate the ceasefire by attempting to carry out attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers.
The military emphasized that it views any attempt by terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip to fire rockets toward Israel with extreme severity, regardless of whether the launches succeed or fail.
Thursday’s incident comes amid ongoing Israeli assessments of the security situation in Gaza and follows repeated warnings that even failed launches constitute a breach of the ceasefire and will draw an immediate response.