Houthi drone strike has rattled Israel after a rare attack reached its southern airport, disrupting air traffic and exposing vulnerabilities in the country’s defense system. The strike comes as Israel intensifies its assault on Gaza City, flattening high-rises and urging civilians to evacuate amid worsening humanitarian conditions.
Drone Breaches Israeli Defenses
On Sunday, a drone launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels evaded Israel’s air defense network and crashed into Ramon International Airport near Eilat. The blast shattered windows and lightly wounded a 63-year-old man. Flights were halted briefly, though operations resumed within hours.
The Houthis claimed responsibility, saying the attack was a direct response to Israeli strikes in Yemen that killed Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi and other senior figures last week. The group declared it would escalate operations and warned that Israeli airports would remain unsafe.
Israel Under Pressure from Houthi Escalation
Houthi spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said eight drones had been launched toward Israel. While the Israeli military intercepted three near the border with Egypt, one penetrated defenses and struck the passenger terminal. Officials admitted they were investigating why the system failed to detect the threat.
The rebels have increased aerial attacks in recent months, using missiles and drones equipped with cluster munitions designed to evade interception. These operations, they claim, are acts of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
Although previous strikes caused minimal damage, Sunday’s incident echoed a May attack when a Houthi missile landed near Ben Gurion Airport, prompting airlines to suspend flights for months.
Gaza City Faces Relentless Bombardment
As the drone strike drew international attention, Israel continued its offensive in Gaza City. On Sunday, the military demolished Al-Ra’iya Tower, a seven-story high-rise housing displaced families. Troops had ordered civilians to evacuate minutes before the structure collapsed into rubble.
The Israeli military said Hamas used the building for intelligence operations, though Hamas denied the claim. The destruction marked the third high-rise brought down in as many days. Israel insists these demolitions are necessary to dismantle Hamas’ last strongholds, while urging civilians to flee to designated humanitarian zones in the south.
Read: Israel Orders Gaza City Evacuation Ahead of High-Rise Bombing
Civilians Trapped Between Strikes and Displacement
Despite evacuation orders, many Palestinians refuse to leave. After months of repeated displacement, families argue that nowhere in Gaza is safe. Humanitarian zones, already overwhelmed with overcrowded tents and poor sanitation, offer little protection.
“Every time we move to a place, we get displaced from it,” said Shireen Al-Lada’, who fled eastern Gaza City after her home in Zeitoun was destroyed.
Hospitals reported a mounting death toll. Shifa Hospital confirmed that Israeli airstrikes on a school-turned-shelter, as well as nearby tents and apartments, killed at least 13 people, including six children and three women. In central Gaza, Al-Awda Hospital received five bodies after a strike in the Nuseirat refugee camp, one of them a young girl.
The Gaza Health Ministry reported that over 64,000 people have died since the conflict erupted. More than half of the casualties are women and children. Israel maintains that militants hide in civilian areas, while Palestinians accuse Israel of indiscriminate bombing.
Israeli Supreme Court Ruling on Detainees
In a rare move, Israel’s Supreme Court ruled that Palestinian detainees were not receiving enough food to meet basic needs. It ordered the state to ensure humane conditions in prisons. The decision followed petitions by human rights groups who warned of starvation among thousands of Palestinians held in Israeli custody.
The ruling highlighted internal divisions in Israel, where judicial oversight has often been sidelined during wartime. International observers said the judgment underscored growing concern about humanitarian law violations.
Trump Pushes for Ceasefire Terms
Amid the violence, U.S. President Donald Trump announced on social media that Israel had accepted his proposed ceasefire terms and urged Hamas to comply. He warned the group of “severe consequences” if it refused.
Hamas confirmed receiving ideas through intermediaries but reiterated its conditions: a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an independent Palestinian body to govern civil affairs. Israel has consistently rejected those demands, insisting Hamas must disarm before any lasting truce.
The Israeli government did not confirm Trump’s claim, fueling uncertainty over negotiations. Meanwhile, families of Israeli hostages urged the government to support a deal, fearing that the planned offensive in Gaza City could endanger those still alive in captivity.
Netanyahu Stands Firm
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed mounting criticism at home and abroad. At a Cabinet meeting, he vowed to continue the assault, stating he preferred “victory over our enemies” rather than bowing to “anti-Israel propaganda.”
His stance has angered hostage families and increased pressure on his leadership. Yet Netanyahu insists dismantling Hamas remains the only path to securing Israel’s future.
Escalation on Two Fronts
The Houthi drone strike and Israel’s intensified campaign in Gaza reflect a dangerous escalation of the conflict. Israel now faces threats not only from Hamas but also from Iran-backed groups across the region.
For Palestinians, the destruction of homes, shelters, and schools deepens the humanitarian catastrophe. For Israel, the breach of air defenses raises questions about its security readiness. With no ceasefire in sight, the violence threatens to spread further, destabilizing the region and complicating international efforts to restore peace.
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