Israeli Airstrikes Hit Gaza Sites After Rocket Launches, With Palestinian Health Ministry Reporting Dozens Killed

Israeli aircraft carried out strikes on targets in Gaza City, Jabalia, and Deir al-Balah on 11 May 2021, hours after Palestinian armed groups launched rockets toward southern Israel. The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza reported 28 people killed and 154 wounded in the first day of strikes. The Israeli military said the targets included sites used to launch rockets and store munitions.

Sequence of Events on 10-11 May 2021

Palestinian factions fired more than 200 rockets from Gaza on 10 May, according to the Israel Defense Forces. Several struck residential areas in Ashkelon and Sderot, killing two Israeli civilians and wounding at least 20 others, Reuters reported. The following evening, Israeli forces responded with airstrikes on buildings and open areas identified as launch sites. The Gaza Health Ministry recorded strikes on residential blocks in Shuja'iyya and a market area in Deir al-Balah.

Israeli Military Position

The Israel Defense Forces stated the strikes were intended to degrade rocket-launching capacity and protect Israeli communities within range of Gaza. Officials cited threats from groups firing unguided rockets into civilian areas and noted that warning procedures were used where feasible. The military said multiple rocket launchers were destroyed in northern and central Gaza.

Palestinian Health Ministry Figures and Local Conditions

The Gaza Health Ministry reported cumulative casualties of 43 killed and 297 wounded by the morning of 12 May. Hospitals in Gaza City and Jabalia treated patients for blast and shrapnel injuries. UN OCHA recorded damage to water pipelines serving 80,000 residents and noted that two clinics had closed after nearby strikes. Schools in affected districts suspended classes.

Humanitarian Access and UN Reporting

UN OCHA reported that crossings at Kerem Shalom and Erez remained open for limited goods but restricted for people. The agency documented 1,200 people displaced into UN-run schools by 13 May. WAFA news agency quoted Gaza health officials stating shortages of anesthetics and surgical supplies. The Israeli military said it facilitated some medical evacuations through the crossings.

West Bank and Regional Reactions

Palestinian Authority officials in Ramallah issued statements condemning the strikes and called for international monitoring. Demonstrations occurred in Ramallah and Hebron on 12 May, with local media reporting several hundred participants. AP recorded statements from Israeli officials describing the rocket fire as an escalation initiated from Gaza.

International and Neutral Source Context

UN OCHA noted that the exchange followed weeks of tension in Jerusalem and the West Bank. Reuters and AP reported statements from both the Israeli government and Hamas-affiliated officials attributing the start of the current round to rocket launches on 10 May. No independent verification of exact launch locations was available from UN sources at the time.

Key Takeaways

• More than 200 rockets were reported fired from Gaza on 10 May 2021, with Israeli civilian casualties recorded in Ashkelon and Sderot.
• The Gaza Health Ministry reported 43 killed and 297 wounded by 12 May, while the Israeli military reported strikes on rocket infrastructure.
• UN OCHA documented damage to water networks and displacement into shelters affecting over 1,000 people.
• Both Israeli and Palestinian official statements framed the events as responses to actions by the other side.
• Access for goods continued at limited levels through Kerem Shalom, according to UN monitoring.

This is Fatima Al-Rashid for Global1 News, reporting from Ramallah.