BICOM

High tension continued yesterday as rockets from the Gaza Strip continued to hit southern Israel, prompting Israel to deploy extra forces to the region and hand Hamas an ultimatum to stop the attacks.

In a barrage of fifteen rockets yesterday evening, an Israeli soldier was slightly wounded by shrapnel while local residents were advised to stay within fifteen seconds of a bomb shelter. This morning, another five rockets were launched, one was intercepted by the Iron Dome anti-missile system. In comparison, just 35 Gaza rockets struck Israel in all of 2013.

Yediot Ahronot reports that Israel has told Hamas via a third party to stop the rocket fire within 48 hours or face a military response. The BBC reports this morning that progress has been made with Egyptian intelligence officials having apparently brokered an agreement by Hamas to stop the rocket attacks. However, there has been no Israeli comment on the report.

During the past two weeks, rockets have targeted Israel on an almost daily basis from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip and attacks have increased during the past several days. At the same time, Israel continues to search for two Hamas activists wanted for the recent murder of three Israeli teenagers. Tensions have further exacerbated over the murder of a Palestinian teenager two days ago.

Israel responded to the growing rocket fire yesterday by bolstering its forces near Gaza where extra tanks, artillery and infantry have reportedly been deployed. The move appeared to serve a dual purpose, as a deterrent to Hamas to prevent further escalation and a force ready to act if such a warning is ignored. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday, “One possibility is that the fire will stop and the quiet continues… The other is that the fire continues and then the increased forces that are in the south will act forcefully.” IDF spokesman Peter Lerner said Israel does not want an escalation and that the troop movements were a defensive measure.