BICOM

Southern Israel faced escalating rocket fire from the Gaza Strip over the weekend, prompting Israel’s Air Force to carry out raids on Hamas targets in Gaza last night, reportedly killing several Hamas activists.

Around 25 rockets were launched at Israel yesterday, following around 30 on Saturday, which included Grad rockets fired at Beersheva, the first time that Israel’s largest southern city had been targeted since 2012. Also on Saturday, an Israeli soldier was treated for shrapnel wounds after a projectile exploded in the Eshkol region. Yesterday, a rocket in the same area started a fire. Residents of the Shar Hanegev region were instructed yesterday to remain in fortified shelters. Meanwhile, the Iron Dome anti-missile system was deployed on several occasions over the weekend, intercepting at least three missiles heading for Ashkelon and one on the way to Beersheva.

Last night, Israel’s Air Force carried out extensive raids on specific targets in the Gaza Strip in response “to rocket attacks against southern Israel,” according to the IDF, hitting a number of concealed rocket launchers with “direct hits.” Hamas said that seven of its activists had been killed in the strikes, plus two Islamic Jihad operatives, but there are reports that the Hamas fatalities were caused after they entered a tunnel targeted by Israel two days ago, which then collapsed. Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri called the raids a “grave escalation” and warned Israel would “pay the price.” This morning, Palestinians from Gaza fired an anti-tank missile at an IDF border patrol. No injuries were reported.

During the past two weeks, rockets have targeted Israel on an almost daily basis from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, further increasing during the past several days. Israel last week bolstered its military forces near the Gaza border and handed Hamas an ultimatum to stop the rocket attacks or else face the prospect of increased military action.

During a cabinet meeting yesterday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said “We will do whatever is necessary to restore quiet and security to the South,” but that he will act “with composure and responsibly, and not with militancy or rashness.” However, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Strategic Affairs Minister Yuval Steinitz reportedly called for tougher action.