A Kassam rocket was fired from Gaza Thursday evening, the second in as many days. The rocket fell in open ground right near a community in the south, causing no injuries or damage.
In response, the IAF struck several targets in Gaza. According to an IDF statement, the sites including a weapons production site in central Gaza, along with a weapons storehouse in northern Gaza.
‘Color red’ sirens were heard throughout the Hof Ashkelon Regional Council communities, after the rocket was fired from near Beit Lahia in northern Gaza.
The Iron Dome system was not deployed, despite the IDF’s recent moving of missile batteries to various parts of southern Israel.
Yair Farjun, head of the Hof Ashkelon Regional Council, called for a strong response to the attack.
“We are alert to the security tension created in our region in the last several day,” said Farjun, adding “the government must act assertively against the attackers and the IDF knows how to do that. Our communities are strong, but we will not accept being fired upon.”
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, before this latest rocket attack, warned Hamas, saying “we will strike those who shoot, and we will strike those who sponsor them.”
However, a senior military source told Voice of Israel public radio that Israel “intends to contain the terror attack and not escalate the situation.” Similarly, Jewish Home chairman Naftali Bennett said the South would remain quiet for now, and if terror continues Israel will “not allow quiet on the Arab side either.”
Tensions have risen following the fatal shooting of a civilian IDF worker on Tuesday, with the IDF responding by striking six terror targets in Gaza.
However, reports indicate that Hamas’ relatively low-level response of two rockets till now belies the fact that the terrorist organization is gathering long range missiles in preparation for the next round of fighting.
Earlier on Thursday, Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon spoke about the shooting of the IDF soldier.
“This is the first time that a sniper from Gaza fires at workers on the other side of the fence,” said Ya’alon. “We thought there were ‘game rules,’ according to which you do not fire at civilians who work near the fence. Until now, they did not fire at civilians, and we will have to think what to do, if someone has changed the rules.”
