BICOM

At least one rocket was fired yesterday evening from the Gaza Strip into Israel, in the first instance of mid-range rocket fire since last summer’s Operation Protective Edge.

At around 9pm, warning sirens were sounded across southern Israel, sending residents hurrying for cover. Some reported hearing multiple blasts, but just a single rocket is confirmed to have landed, near Gan Yavne east of Ashdod. No injuries or damage were reported. However, the Grad rocket is the first instance of a mid-sized rocket being fired into Israel since last summer’s conflict.

Last month, a rocket from the Gaza Strip landed in the Shar Hanegev region of southern Israel. It was only the fourth occasion such an incident had taken place since Operation Protective Edge. An Egyptian-brokered ceasefire brought an end to the 50-day conflict and has largely held firm, but Israel has consistently made clear that it will not tolerate rocket fire.

In response to yesterday’s attack, the IDF said that air forces had struck “four terrorist locations in southern Gaza” overnight. The targets are thought to have been Islamic Jihad training camps in Gaza City, Rafah and Khan Younis.

Although no group has yet taken responsibility for yesterday evening’s rocket fire, Israel Radio reported that Hamas is attempting to calm the situation with rival Gaza groups and that the attack may have been the result of an internal Islamic Jihad dispute. Nonetheless, as the de facto ruler in Gaza, Israel holds Hamas responsible. Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon commented, “It is in Hamas’s interest to act to rein in any attempt to fire at Israel … Otherwise, we will be forced to act with greater force.”

Since Operation Protective Edge ended, Israel has eased restrictions on goods entering and exiting Gaza. However, there have been numerous reports that Hamas has test fired rockets into the Mediterranean Sea. The Telegraph reported last month that Iran had transferred millions of pounds to enable Hamas to rebuild tunnels and replenish its rocket supplies.