ROCKETS CONTINUE TO BE FIRED FIRED FROM GAZA The Israeli Air Force respond and pound Hamas targets in the Strip
Palestinian terrorists in Gaza continued to rain down rockets on Israel’s south and the Israeli Air Force pounded Hamas targets in the Strip on Friday night amid Israel’s ongoing war with the Islamist terror group.
The Israel Defense Forces said it struck multiple Hamas command centers and underground infrastructure throughout the day, while also eliminating a senior Hamas engineer. It said Mahmoud Sabih headed a unit that developed weapons for Hamas, including drones, and had “exchanged knowledge with other terror groups throughout the Middle East.”
Terrorists also launched rocket barrages at Sderot, Ashdod and several nearby towns. The Sderot municipality said a rocket that landed in the southern city caused damage to a street and bus stop, but no injuries.
The rocket fire came as Hamas released two hostages it captured during its October 7 invasion and killing spree in Israeli communities. American citizens Judith and Natalie Raanan crossed back into Israel and were to be reunited with their relatives at a military base.
Hamas cited humanitarian considerations for the release, which Washington said had been mediated by Qatar.
198 Israeli civilians are still being held captive by Hamas.
The vast majority of those killed as gunmen seized border communities were civilians — men, women, children and the elderly. Entire families were executed in their homes, and over 260 were slaughtered at an outdoor festival, many amid horrific acts of brutality by the terrorists.