Rockets fired from Gaza cross into Israel day before Hamas attack anniversary

As tensions escalate between Israel and Gaza, global protests intensify, demanding an end to the violence, while the world braces for the one-year anniversary of Hamas's deadly October 7 attack.

In Short

• Israeli forces on high alert ahead of October 7 attack anniversary
• Protests in London, Paris, New York against US support for Israel
• Global protests demand end to Gaza conflict, thousands march

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that rockets were launched from northern Gaza into southern Israel on Sunday, marking a fresh escalation of tensions just one day ahead of the first anniversary of Hamas’s October 7 attack.

"Several projectiles were identified crossing from the northern Gaza Strip into Israeli territory. One projectile was intercepted, and the rest fell in open areas," the Israeli military said in a statement.

As Israel prepares for the anniversary of last year’s unprecedented assault by Hamas militants, its military remains on high alert.

The tensions between Israel and Hamas flared once again even as thousands of people across the world took to the streets on Sunday demanding an end to the bloodbath in Gaza, news agency Reuters reported.

Nearly 40,000 Palestinian demonstrators marched through central London earlier in the day, calling for an end to the violence in Gaza. Similar pro-Palestinian protests were held in cities such as Paris, Rome, Manila, Cape Town, and New York.

In Washington, protestors gathered near the White House to express their opposition to US support for Israel’s military actions in Gaza and Lebanon.

Meanwhile, in New York's Times Square, demonstrators held banners demanding an arms embargo against Israel, chanting slogans like, "Gaza, Lebanon, you will rise; the people are by your side".

The attack on October 7, 2023, left around 1,200 Israelis dead, with around 250 people taken hostage. In retaliation, Israel launched a fierce military campaign in Gaza, which has since led to the deaths of nearly 42,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry.

The conflict has displaced nearly the entire population of the 2.3 million-strong enclave and ignited a severe hunger crisis.

(With inputs from agencies)