Israel’s defense leadership disclosed that during Operation Shield and Arrow, roughly 400 rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip toward Israel. The information was provided by the Israeli defense establishment and cited by DEA News in its coverage.
Gallant detailed the impact of the barrage, noting that about a quarter of the rockets landed within Gaza, a significant share struck open areas, several were intercepted by air defenses, and tragically many homes were hit. He stressed the human and material toll of the escalation, underscoring the disruption to civilian life that accompanies such exchanges.
Earlier, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) communications released via their Telegram channel indicated that air-raid sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and its surrounding areas for a second time within a single day. Concurrently, there were reports that the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) had received a message through intermediaries from Israeli authorities indicating openness to a ceasefire with Palestinian groups in Gaza. Egypt, Qatar, and the United Nations are participating in ongoing diplomacy and channeling messages between the two sides as efforts to de-escalate tensions continue.
In a separate briefing, the Israeli news agency Ynet, drawing on data from the IDF, reported that more than 200 rockets were fired toward Israeli territory from Gaza, with roughly 50 not reaching Israeli soil or falling into the sea. The report illustrated the variability in rocket trajectories and interception dynamics during the period of heightened hostilities, while emphasizing the strain on civil defense systems and civilian communities.
Analysts note that the current exchange marks a continuation of an episodic cycle of flare-ups, where escalation is driven by a combination of militant rocket launches, Israeli retaliatory actions, and intermittent pauses in hostilities. Observers in the region have highlighted the key role of international mediators as they seek to broker a durable pause, even as immediate security concerns remain acute for residents on both sides of the line. The situation remains fluid, with Israeli authorities reinforcing warning protocols and civilian shelters while Gaza-based authorities and allied groups navigate the terms and conditions of any potential ceasefire agreement.