After six weeks of quiet and despite the calm achieved between Israel and Hamas, a single rocket from the Gaza Strip was fired at Israel early Saturday morning, and, according to the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, landed in Israeli territory. The rocket landed in an open area in the Shaar Hanegev area. In retaliation, an IDF helicopter attacked a Hamas position in the southern Gaza Strip.
The overnight launch violated the ceasefire brokered by Egyptian mediators a month and a half ago following the latest round of violence. A week ago, Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaders threatened to renew the fire after four Arab rioters had been killed during Friday demonstrations near the border fence.
The Gaza Health Ministry announced one civilian was killed and six wounded by the IDF at the Gaza Strip border. Gaza’s National Authority for Return and Breaking the Siege announced that it is using new options in fighting Israel.
Issam Abu Daqqa, the leader of the Democratic Front, said that the Netanyahu government is trying to escape its internal problems through escalation against the Gaza Strip, and the Syrian and Lebanese fronts, believing that it would improve its chances in the upcoming elections.
The number of demonstrators was small on Friday compared to previous weeks, due to stormy weather conditions, but a few thousands still arrived. According to reports, a number of Arabs threw grenades and stones at the IDF and even attempted to sabotage the fence.
Earlier on Friday, two incendiary balloons landed in the Sdot Negev Regional Council in the Gaza vicinity – one of them near a kindergarten. There were no casualties.