Israel Under Attack: Rockets Launched by Hamas’ al-Qassam Brigades Strike Building in Ashkelon

On October 9, 2023, a building in the southern city of Ashkelon, Israel, was hit by a barrage of rockets launched by Hamas’ al-Qassam Brigades military unit. The attack came after Israel had struck hundreds of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip overnight and four Israeli combat divisions were deployed to the country’s south.

New York Congressman Dan Goldman was in Tel Aviv at the time of the attack and described his experience on NBC’s “TODAY” show. He said he and his family had woken up to sirens wailing and ran to a stairwell to take shelter. He said the experience was “traumatic” and that it was nothing compared to the Israelis down south who had been “massacred” by the rockets.

Explosions were heard as Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system brought down some of the rockets, but there was no immediate information on how many might have slipped through. In response to the attack, some 100,000 Israeli reservists were called up to fight as battles with Hamas militants continued.

The attack was a stark reminder of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The two sides have been locked in a cycle of violence for years, with no end in sight. The international community has called for a ceasefire, but so far there has been no progress towards peace.