JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israeli warplanes attacked several Hamas military targets in Gaza after a rocket was fired from Gaza on a civilian area of southern Israel.
The rocket fired on Saturday night landed in an open area in a border community in southern Israel. It did not cause any injury nor damage, according to reports.
The Israel Defense Forces responded early Sunday morning, hitting a Hamas military compound in northern Gaza and two Hamas naval vessels.
The IDF said in a statement that its airstrikes were in response to the Saturday night rocket attack, as well as “continuing terror activities from the Strip, including balloon explosives and causing harm to security infrastructure in the last several days.”
On Saturday, a cluster of balloons carrying an explosive device believed to be an anti-tank warhead, landed in southern Israel. That incident capped a week in which several balloons carrying explosives crossed into Israeli territory, including several which exploded.
Thousands of Palestinians participated in violent protests on the border with Israel on Friday, after smaller protests in the days leading up to it. At least two of the protesters infiltrated through the security fence into Israel each carrying a knife and hand grenade. They were captured after about half an hour as residents of border communities were ordered to stay in their homes.
At least 41 Palestinians were wounded during the protest, including 15 minors, two women, four paramedics and two journalists, Haaretz reported citing the Gaza Health Ministry.
It was the 50th consecutive week of the Palestinians’ so-called March of Return.
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