Gaza City, Palestinian Territories-APF, May 11,2021 — Palestinian militant group Hamas said Wednesday it had fired more than 200 rockets into Israel in retaliation for strikes on a tower block in Gaza.

The armed branch of Hamas said in a statement that it was “in the process of firing 110 rockets towards the city of Tel Aviv,” and 100 rockets towards the southern town of Beersheva, “as reprisal for the restarting of strikes against civilian homes.”

Sirens rang out in both places shortly after the announcement, according to the Israel Defence Forces, which added that families in Tel Aviv had been woken up and rushed to bomb shelters.

Hamas had previously reported the destruction of a nine-storey building in the centre of Gaza, the Israeli-blockaded enclave they control.

“Significant damage was caused to the tower and its neighbouring buildings,” reported Hamas television channel, Al-Aqsa TV.

Witnesses said several missiles struck the building, containing homes, businesses and a local television channel.

The latest salvo of rocket fire follows one earlier in the evening, also towards Tel Aviv, which killed one person on the outskirts of the city.

Since Monday three Israelis have been killed and dozens of others injured in rocket strikes from the Gaza Strip.

At least 32 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli strikes on the enclave, including 10 children, and more than 220 have been injured, local authorities said.

Meanwhile, the UN envoy for Middle East Peace Tor Wennesland warned that Israel and Hamas were “escalating towards a full-scale war.”

Israel is not ready for a ceasefire with Hamas

Meanwhile, the Jerusalem Post reported that Israel will not negotiate a ceasefire before Hamas pays a price for its attacks, a senior Israeli official said on Tuesday.

“Hamas fired a bunch of rockets, and then of course they want a ceasefire, that’s perfect for them, they don’t have to pay a price for firing on Jerusalem and then 500 rockets,” the official said.

“There will be a ceasefire when we’re ready for it,” he added.

The official would not confirm or deny a report on Channel 12 News that Israel declined an Egyptian offer to negotiate a ceasefire, nor that Egypt put forward an offer at all.

Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi spoke to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Ashkenazi “emphasized that Israel has the right to defend its sovereignty and will not allow attempts to hurt its citizens.”

He said Israel will continue to use a heavy hand against Hamas terrorists.

“Hamas chose the path of terrorism and shot over 600 rockets at civilian populations in Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, and the center of Israel and its south, hurting dozens of innocent people and killing three,” he added.

Ashkenazi thanked Blinken for US support for Israel’s right to defend itself. He also called on the international community to condemn Hamas terrorism and the rocket fire from Gaza, rather than give a prize to terrorism.