BICOM

A missile fired from Gaza hit a religious college in Sderot last night, causing light damage to the building.

The missile failed to explode, which meant the damage was not as severe as it could have been. No one was reportedly injured in the attack, as most of the students had left for the weekend. It was the second night in a row that a missile was fired from Gaza into southern Israel.

In response, the Israel Air Force attacked Hamas military targets in Gaza, including one that belonged to Hamas’s naval force. Palestinian sources did not report any injuries.

Last night Sderot Mayor Alon Davidi expressed deep frustration saying the city has been targeted by missiles from Gaza for more than 15 years. He said: “The situation as it is cannot continue. As I said in the past, only a ground operation will bring peace to our region.”

Former IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz, head of the Blue and White party, called for an “attack of unprecedented intensity”. He added: “Put the gun-sight on senior Hamas figures. Afterwards exploit the quiet for a political initiative with economic leverage. Initiate a ceasefire with international mediation, and do not let Hamas dictate it.”

Tensions have risen along the Gaza border over the last few days due to a number of fires being started by incendiary balloons launched across the border into Israel. According to Ynet,Palestinian groups have begun to attach slow-burning explosive liquids to the incendiary balloons, which drip fireballs as they fly over the border, creating several fires.

On Wednesday evening, for the third time this year, the IDF completely closed the Gaza Strip’s offshore waters to Palestinian fishermen until further notice in response to incendiary balloons launched into Israel. According to Israeli NGO Gisha, in 2019 alone, Israel has implemented 15 changes to the demarcation of the fishing zone it enforces off the Gaza coast.

US Middle East envoy, Jason Greenblatt, tweeted: “After a week of fires started across southern Israel by arson balloons from Gaza, 2 rockets have been fired out of Gaza in the last 2 nights. 1 was intercepted & the other hit a school. Terrorist leadership in Gaza is preventing the world from helping there.”