Gantz: Rocket barrage from Rafah proves need for Israel’s military operation there

Sam Sokol is the Times of Israel's political correspondent. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"

War cabinet minister Benny Gantz visits the Urim IDF base near the Gaza border, May 26, 2024. (Courtesy/Office of Benny Gantz
War cabinet minister Benny Gantz visits the Urim IDF base near the Gaza border, May 26, 2024. (Courtesy/Office of Benny Gantz

This afternoon’s rocket barrage from the southern Gaza city of Rafah shows why Israel needs to continue its military operation there, National Unity chairman Benny Gantz says during a tour of Gaza border communities.

“The rockets shot from Rafah today prove that the IDF must operate in every place Hamas still operates from, and as such, the IDF will continue to operate wherever necessary,” Gantz, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s war cabinet, declares at the Urim IDF base.

“The world must know: Those who still hold our hostages captive, shoot at our cities and continue to propagate terror are responsible for the situation,” he adds. “Terrorist Hamas are war criminals, and we intend on making them pay for their crimes – whether sooner or later.”

Multiple interceptions by the Iron Dome air defense system were seen over central Israel following a rocket barrage launched from the Gaza Strip, with sirens sounding in Herzliya, Kfar Shmaryahu, Ramat Hasharon, Tel Aviv, Petah Tikva, and several smaller communities.

The rocket barrage fired by the Hamas terror group at central Israel was apparently launched from the Rafah area in the southern Gaza Strip, images posted to social media showed.

In a significant but somewhat ambiguous sharpening of its treatment of genocide claims against Israel, the International Court of Justice ordered Israel on Friday to halt military operations in Rafah that would risk the destruction of the civilian population sheltering there.

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