BICOM

Six rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip at southern Israel overnight, prompting Israel’s air force to respond by striking four Gaza military sites.

Last week, a rocket landed near the city of Ashkelon in the first instance of Gaza rocket fire to reach Israel since the end of April. However, last night’s salvo was one of the most serious since Operation Pillar of Defence resulted in a ceasefire to end sustained Gaza rocket fire in November.

A total of six rockets were fired last night, four towards the town of Netivot and the Bnei Shimon area while two launched towards Ashkelon were successfully intercepted by The Iron Dome anti-missile system. The air raid siren was sounded in Rahat, Beer Sheva and the Lehavim and Shaar Hanegev regions. Residents reported hearing blasts as the rockets landed, although no injuries or damage was reported. Sigal Moran, head of the Bnei Shimon Regional Council told YNet “We’re pretty shocked” adding “We thought we’d have some peace. I hope it was sporadic and will not repeat itself.”

As a result of the rocket attacks, Chief of Staff Benny Gantz consulted IDF top brass and instructed the launch of airstrikes against four military targets in central and south Gaza, including two arms depots and a rocket launching site. An IDF statement said “The IDF will not tolerate attempts to harm Israeli citizens.” Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon ordered the closure of the Kerem Shalom and Erez border crossings in Gaza.

The IDF maintains Hamas is “held responsible” for the rocket fire, as it controls the Gaza Strip. Some reports though suggest that Islamic Jihad may have launched the attack, after it had announced a suspension of ties with Hamas earlier yesterday. The rift occurred after a senior Islamic Jihad member died following an altercation with Hamas policeman attempting to take him into custody.