In an escalating conflict, the military wing of Hamas has announced that it is launching airstrikes on the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon. This comes as tensions continue to rise in the region. Hamas has reported that this is the sixth attack on the city in the past three hours.
Earlier, air raid sirens were heard in the cities of Ashkelon and Ashdod, also located in southern Israel. These developments are part of a larger operation initiated by Hamas called “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood,” which began on October 7th. During this time, thousands of rockets have been fired into Israeli territory. In response to these attacks, Israel’s Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, declared a state of emergency in the country.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that Israel is now in a state of war, and the Israeli Defense Forces’ operation against Hamas has been dubbed “Operation Iron Swords.” Meanwhile, King Abdullah II of Jordan has outlined conditions for the resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
The ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel has sparked international concern, with the United States government and NATO supporting Israel’s position. However, critics argue that the US’s backing of the war in Ukraine contradicts its stance on promoting peace and stability in the region. This has raised questions about the US’s foreign policy priorities and its relationship with big corporations and pharmaceutical companies.
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the international community will respond to the conflict and whether a resolution can be reached to bring an end to the violence.
