BICOM

At least five rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip towards the southern city of Ashkelon yesterday evening as cross-border violence flared up after a daylong lull.

Four of the rockets exploded in open fields near the city and one was shot down by the Iron Dome missile defence system. No damage or injuries were reported.

On Thursday evening, IDF Chief of Staff Major General Benny Gantz, said that rocket fire is likely to continue. Speaking at a Defence Ministry event in Tel Aviv, Gantz said that “the challenges facing the IDF are like a spiral, constantly developing and changing.”

Earlier on Thursday, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Ron Prosor, lodged a formal complaint with the Security Council and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon over rocket fire from the Gaza Strip that began on Tuesday.

“So long as there are no quiet towns in southern Israel, Gaza won’t be quiet either,” Prosor said. He also protested the fact that Israel’s compliance with UN demands to allow aid into Gaza is met with rocket fire and placed the blame squarely on Hamas.

Thursday evening’s rocket fire, follows a Hamas announcement Wednesday that it was prepared to cooperate with Egyptian efforts to end the current round of rocket fire providing Israel also cease its air strikes on Gaza.

Despite rocket fire last night, it was announced that schools in Ashkelon would be open today.

In all, at least 10 rockets were fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip on Thursday. Since Monday, over 120 missiles have been fired into Israel, including more than 70 fired on Wednesday alone.