A rocket fired from the Gaza Strip Monday night exploded in the Ashkelon area in southern Israel. No injuries or damage were reported.
The rocket triggered an air raid siren.
In retaliation, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) struck an underground rocket launcher in the central Gaza Strip and a terror site in the northern Gaza Strip. ‘’Direct hits were confirmed,’’ the IDF said.
"The attack occurred after repeated projectile attacks, which Hamas did not stop in recent days.''
IDF spokesperson, Lt Col. Peter Lerner, said: “The IDF targeted sites that were part of the infrastructure used to terrorize Israel and its civilians. The daily reality of Israelis exposed to rocket attacks is unbearable, incomprehensible and immoral. We will continue to act against the threats emanating from Hamas’ Gaza Strip; they must be held accountable for allowing the attacks to continue unhindered.”
ccoreding to the Israeli media, there have been 33 rocket attacks on Israeli towns and territory from the Hamas-controlled territory since the beginning of 2014, the IDF has noted.
"The attack occurred after repeated projectile attacks, which Hamas did not stop in recent days," the IDF spokesman added.
A Palestinian rocket fired from Gaza exploded in an open territory in the Hof Ashkelon region on Monday night.
On Sunday, the Israel Air Force and the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) launched a targeted strike on a Palestinian terrorist who has been behind a spate of rocket and border attacks on Israel on Sunday.
Abdallah Kharti, a member of the Popular Resistance Committees, and who is affiliated with a global jihadi network, took an active role in the planning and execution of rocket attacks, including ones that have targeted Eilat, according to security forces.
At the weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared: "Our resolute policy against terrorism may be summed up in a single principle: Whoever attacks us or plans to attack us – will bear the consequences.