Gazan terrorists fire 7 rockets at Israel; Israel shuts border
Gaza-based terrorists fired four rockets toward Israel on Sunday night, setting off sirens in several areas. The Iron Dome Aerial Defence System intercepted one of them.
Tamir missile is launched at night from the Israeli Iron Dome, positioned in central Israel, towards rockets fired from Gaza into Israel. Jul 11, 2014. Photo by Kobi Richter/TPS
No Israeli casualties reported and no damage was caused by the rockets.
In response to the explosive arson balloon attacks and the four rockets fired from Gaza at Israel, IDF tanks struck Hamas military posts in Gaza.
Another three rockets were fired on Monday morning toward southern Israel. One of the rockets was intercepted by the Iron Dome system.
These attacks were joined by some 40 fires caused by arson attacks launched from Gaza on Sunday. A train line and several roads in the south were shut down for several hours due to the attacks, and some of the fires caused damage to fields.
In response to the day of violence, the IDF’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) announced it was closing the Erez Crossing from Gaza into Israel, except for humanitarian and exceptional cases, and that all fishing off the Gaza coast was banned.
“The Hamas terrorist organization bears responsibility for everything that is done in and out of the Gaza Strip vi-a-vis the State of Israel, and it will bear the consequences of the violence used against the citizens of the country,” the IDF stated.
Speaking on Sunday during a cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the terrorist groups that “Israel will respond strongly to any act of aggression from the Gaza Strip.”
However, with almost 60 rockets fired at Israel in the past two weeks, including several on Saturday night, Israel’s response is minor and very limited.
Reports indicate that while the IDF’s top brass has recommended on a significant series of strikes against the Hamas in Gaza, the government, headed by Netanyahu, is seeking to maintain the status quo, absorb the blows, and hopefully move on.
