BICOM

At least two rockets were fired from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip towards the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon this morning.

Several explosions were heard soon after the Code Red warning siren was sounded in communities across the Ashkelon region. Initial reports indicate that one of the rockets was intercepted by the Iron Dome anti-missile defence system, while another landed in an open area. No injuries have been reported. Last night’s rocket fire came after two mortars from the Gaza Strip were fired into Israel yesterday afternoon, landing in an open area of the Eshkol region in the Western Negev.

Rocket fire from the Gaza Strip has punctuated relative calm after a ceasefire brought an end to Operation Pillar of Defence last November, during which Israel sought to stop increased rates of rocket fire from Gaza. However, Israel’s air force struck concealed rocket launchers in northern Gaza in August after rockets were fired at Israel. The skirmish came as Israel released a group of twenty six Palestinian prisoners as part of an agreement to resume peace talks with the Palestinian Authority (PA). Israel’s government yesterday approved a second prisoner release and some commentators speculated that the rockets fired last night were a response by some Palestinian groups to the announcement.

During the past month, two other incidents have threatened Israeli security along the Gaza border. Two weeks ago, the Israeli army revealed it had uncovered a huge and complex tunnel which traversed beneath the Gaza border into Israel. Hamas later admitted to constructing the tunnel, which took an estimated eighteen months to construct. Meanwhile, at the start of October, Israeli soldiers opened fire on two Palestinians who ignored warnings and attempted to tamper with the border fence.