BICOM

Four rockets were fired yesterday from the Gaza Strip towards the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon. The Iron Dome anti-missile system ensured that no damage was caused before Israel’s Air Force carried out targeted strikes in Gaza in response.

The rockets were fired yesterday evening. Two landed harmlessly in open spaces, while two were intercepted and destroyed by an Iron Dome battery deployed in the region. On Thursday, a rocket from Gaza damaged a major road in the Eshkol region of southern Israel while on Saturday, several rockets were fired towards Ashkelon, landing in open spaces. As a result of the increased rocket fire, an Iron Dome battery was deployed yesterday near Ashdod, just north of Ashkelon.

In response to the rocket fire, Israel’s Air Force yesterday evening launched strikes on five targets in the Gaza Strip. The IDF said that the targets were comprised of a “centre for terrorist activity” and sites for weapons manufacturing or storage. An army statement said, “The IDF will not tolerate attempts to harm Israeli citizens and IDF soldiers, and will operate against anyone who uses terror against the State of Israel.” Direct hits were recorded by the IDF at all targets, which were mainly in the northern Gaza Strip. Palestinian reports said that three people were hurt in the air strikes, including one three-year-old.

The increase in rocket attacks from Gaza during the last week comes soon after the creation of a Palestinian unity government, which is backed by both PA President Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah faction and by Hamas, which remains dedicated to Israel’s destruction. Although Abbas called on all Palestinian factions to refrain from such attacks last week, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Abbas is now responsible for violence from the Gaza Strip, having entered into a unity agreement with Hamas.