News - Middle East: Palestinian resistance groups in Gaza have fired a new batch of rockets towards Israeli cities in retaliation for the regime's deadly air raids on the besieged coastal enclave, hitting targets as far as Tel Aviv.

Gaza's joint command of Palestinian resistance groups claimed responsibility for firing rockets at Israel, saying in a statement it had fired “hundreds” of rockets towards the occupied Palestinian territories, including Tel Aviv, in an operation codenamed “revenge of the free.”

"The resistance will remain in all fronts of the homeland as one unit, a sword and a shield for our people, our land and our holy sites,” the statement said.

"The resistance is ready for all options, and if the occupation persists in its aggression and arrogance, black days await it,” it added.

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem told the Palestinian Shehab news agency that "the joint command’s response was unified and coordinated, and based on field arrangements between all factions."

Israel’s Channel 13 said over 300 rockets have so far been launched from the Gaza Strip. 

According to Israeli media, explosions were heard in several areas in the vicinity of Tel Aviv.

The al-Mayadeen television news network reported that rockets had damaged a house in Tel Aviv.

Earlier on Wednesday, the first round of Palestinian rocket attacks targeted towns and settlements around Gaza, including Ashdod, Ashkelon, Sderot, Netivot and Miflassim.

Meanwhile, the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported that damage was caused to a building by a rocket in Eshkol. Israel’s Channel 13 said that a house in Sderot was damaged by a rocket falling on it. It also said that a fire broke out in the Ashkelon coast region after a rocket hit the area.  

Reporting on the damage caused by rockets, the Jerusalem Post said Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport’s activity was briefly disrupted following rocket fire from Gaza.