ASHKELON: Controversial Gaza posters appear overnight and residents are FURIOUS

Israeli police launched an investigation on Sunday after inflammatory posters showing Gaza casualties appeared throughout Ashkelon, a southern Israeli city that has endured persistent rocket attacks from the Hamas-controlled territory over the years.

The posters, which emerged overnight, displayed images of Palestinian casualties with captions alleging they were victims of Israeli military operations in Gaza, according to local authorities.

Ashkelon, located just 8 miles north of Gaza, has been one of the most frequently targeted Israeli cities by Hamas rocket attacks. The timing of the poster campaign has struck a particularly raw nerve among residents still processing the trauma of October 7 and subsequent warfare.

Chief Inspector Doron Sasson, who is leading the investigation, explained that forensics teams have been deployed to collect evidence, including fingerprints and security camera footage. "We're treating this as a serious incident of potential incitement," Sasson said.

Local residents have actively joined the investigation, providing authorities with security camera footage from private homes and businesses. The community response underscores the deep emotional impact of the incident in a city where air raid sirens and rocket attacks have been a regular part of life for years.

Authorities are urging anyone with information about the source of the posters to come forward as the investigation continues.

Channel 14 contributed to this article.