In a major escalation of the ongoing conflict, a missile fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels struck near Israel’s main international airport, Ben Gurion, on Sunday. The attack, which sent plumes of smoke into the sky and caused panic among passengers, led to a brief halt in air, rail, and road traffic. According to Israeli media, the missile or its fragments hit a field near the airport’s access roads, leaving a large crater and lightly injuring four people. Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed responsibility, stating that a hypersonic ballistic missile was launched in solidarity with Palestinians amidst the Gaza conflict.

The strike came just hours before Israel’s top security Cabinet was scheduled to vote on intensifying military operations in the Gaza Strip. As the Israeli army began calling up thousands of reservists, far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir pushed for a “powerful” escalation. He urged the government to target Gaza’s food and electricity supplies to pressure Hamas into agreeing to ceasefire terms. The attack marks a significant moment in the regional conflict, as Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz vowed harsh retaliation, declaring, “Whoever harms us, we will harm them sevenfold.”

The war in Gaza, which erupted on October 7, 2023, continues to devastate the region. Following the collapse of an eight-week ceasefire in March 2025, Israel resumed strikes, killing hundreds of Palestinians and displacing over 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents. Palestinian medics reported multiple civilian deaths, including children, as Israel intensified its campaign. So far, more than 52,000 Palestinians have died, and humanitarian conditions in the enclave are deteriorating rapidly. Despite international concern, both military and political leaders in Israel appear poised to expand the conflict further.