Mortar fired from Gaza towards Israel, hours before elections

A mortar shell was fired from the Gaza Strip towards Israel on Sunday evening, but fell within Gaza, according to an IDF spokesperson. The attack comes just ten hours before polls open for the 23rd Knesset elections. Locals reported hearing an explosion in the area. An alert was activated in open areas near the border. No group has claimed responsibility for the mortar fire. Palestinian media reported on Sunday that the Hamas terrorist groups had sent delegations to Moscow and Cairo. The delegation in Cairo is set to discuss recent clashes and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip with Egyptian officials. The Hamas delegation to Moscow is headed by Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and will discuss US President Donald Trump's 'Deal of the Century' Middle East peace plan and Russia's role in supporting Palestinian rights, among other issues. A delegation headed by the head of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorist group is also planning on visiting Moscow, but an exact date has not been announced. Last week, almost 100 rockets were fired by the PIJ from the Gaza Strip towards communities in southern Israel. The IDF carried out widespread air strikes in response to the rocket fire and placed restrictions on entry permits and traffic through the border crossings into the Strip during the clashes, but removed the restrictions soon after a ceasefire reportedly came into effect on Monday night. The hostilities began on Sunday when Israel killed a PIJ terrorist who had planted an explosive device and prevented Palestinians from retrieving his body in a graphic video that went viral. Israel then came under a barrage of 26 rockets, leading the IAF to carry out retaliatory airstrikes against PIJ targets in Syria and throughout the Gaza Strip following earlier rocket fire, killing at least six terrorists. Anna Ahronheim contributed to this report.

Mortar fired from Gaza towards Israel, hours before elections

Two Hamas delegations are currently visiting Moscow and Cairo. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh is leading the delegation to Moscow. The PIJ leadership is planning on visiting Moscow as well.

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Mortar fired from Gaza towards Israel, hours before elections

Two Hamas delegations are currently visiting Moscow and Cairo. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh is leading the delegation to Moscow. The PIJ leadership is planning on visiting Moscow as well.

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