BICOM

An Israel Air Force (IAF) plane yesterday intercepted a drone thought to have been launched by Hamas, which was heading from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory.

The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was reportedly in the air for just a few minutes early yesterday afternoon. According to a statement by the IDF, the drone was “under IAF surveillance from the moment it took off from the Gaza Strip” and at no point did it actually enter Israeli airspace or territory.

The statement added: “The IDF will not permit any violation of its air space, and will act with determination against any such effort.”

IDF spokesman Peter Lerner also said: “Hamas has been developing its drone capabilities, especially in the last two years.”

He added: “Today’s event proves once more that Hamas continues to invest in tools of terror and not the needs of the people of Gaza.”

Although Hamas has yet to claim responsibility for yesterday’s drone, the terror group has previously launched UAVs at Israel. Last June, a Hamas UAV crashed close to the Gaza border fence and drones were launched from Gaza during Operation Protective Edge in summer 2014. In February, Israeli authorities thwarted an attempt to smuggle multiple drone models into Gaza and in May an effort to send disassembled drone parts into the Gaza Strip via the postal system was also prevented.

Last week, a rocket was fired from the Gaza Strip, which landed in southern Israel. Although no damage was caused, Israel struck three strategic Hamas targets in Gaza in response. As the de facto governing power in Gaza, Israel holds Hamas responsible for rocket fire from the territory.