JERUSALEM 

At least six Israelis were injured when a barrage of rockets fired from Gaza hit Israeli central areas on Wednesday evening.

According to the Times of Israel news website, the rockets from Gaza hit the areas of Rishon Lezion, Petah Tikva, Bat Yam, and Rosh Ha'ayin in central Israel near Tel Aviv city.

It added that significant material damage was caused by the rockets.

Meanwhile, the Hamas' armed wing Al-Qassam Brigades said it struck areas around Tel Aviv, central Israel, with rockets "in response to the Israeli crimes against (Palestinian) civilians" in Gaza.

The Israeli army warplanes continued to hit areas across Gaza leaving hundreds killed, most of them women and children, according to statements by the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza on Wednesday.

The conflict in Gaza began when the Palestinian group Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood -- a multi-pronged surprise attack on Oct. 7 that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea and air.

Hamas said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.

The Israeli military then launched a relentless bombardment of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.

More than 7,900 people have been killed in the conflict, including at least 6,546 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis.

Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been running out of food, water, medicines and fuel, and aid convoys allowed into Gaza have carried only a fraction of what is needed.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara