Yemen’s Houthi rebels said they launched a ballistic missile towards Israel on Saturday, marking their first attack since the 24 June ceasefire between Israel and Iran, which followed a 12-day war.

Warning sirens sounded in several areas across Israel before the military said the missile was “most likely successfully intercepted.”

In a statement, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group had targeted “a sensitive Israeli enemy site in the occupied area of Beersheba” using a Dhu al-Fiqar ballistic missile.

He said the strike was carried out in retaliation for what they described as the “crimes of the criminal Zionist enemy” against civilians in the Gaza Strip.

Israel has faced mounting international condemnation for its attacks on civilians, particularly near aid distribution centres. Gaza’s health ministry says more than 500 people have been killed near aid points since late May, many shot while trying to access food.

Humanitarian organisations, including Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), have described the aid mechanism, backed by Israel and the US, as “slaughter masquerading as humanitarian aid.”

The Houthis, backed by Iran, began launching missiles and drones at Israel after it began its devastating war on Gaza in October 2023. The International Court of Justice has found a plausible risk of genocide, while aid and rights groups have explicitly described Israel’s campaign as genocidal.

The group has said it will halt attacks once a truce is reached and Israel ends its military onslaught against the besieged population.

It paused strikes during a two-month ceasefire earlier this year but resumed them after Israel escalated its war on Gaza in March, unleashing fresh attacks on residential areas and aid distribution sites.

According to Gaza’s health ministry, Israeli forces have killed 56,331 Palestinians and injured 132,632 others since the war began. That includes 6,008 killed and 20,591 wounded since Israel resumed large-scale bombardment on 18 March.

Israel, the US, and the UK have carried out a series of airstrikes on Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen, including ports and the airport in the rebel-held capital, Sanaa.

Saree said Houthi operations would continue “until the aggression against Gaza stops and the siege is lifted.”