After relative calm with Gaza, four days of rocket fire towards Israel
COGAT bans import of concrete into Gaza, cancels 500 work permits
By ANNA AHRONHEIM, JERUSALEM POST STAFFSmoke and flame are seen during an Israeli air strike in Gaza(photo credit: MOHAMMED SALEM/ REUTERS)
The IAF struck Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip overnight Sunday after rockets and explosive balloons were launched throughout the day toward Israel.On Saturday night, sirens warning of an incoming rocket were activated in Nahal Oz and Alumim in the Sha’ar Hanegev region while Blue and White leader Benny Gantz and members of his party were visiting the area. The rocket fell harmlessly.The targets hit by the IAF in retaliation included underground infrastructure for Hamas’s military arm Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip.There will be an embargo on bringing cement into the Gaza Strip, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) announced on Saturday. In addition, the IDF is cutting 500 permits into Israel for Gaza merchants effective Sunday morning until further notice.“The decision was made following security consultations and in light of repeated terrorist acts by the Gaza Strip against Israeli citizens in recent weeks, which violate Israeli sovereignty,” COGAT said. “Hamas is responsible for everything that is done inside and out of the Gaza Strip toward Israel, and it will bear the consequences.”Following the airstrikes, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said the group would not be deterred by Israeli “aggression” but would “reinforce our people’s insistence on continuing the legitimate struggle against them and will not stop the Palestinians’ efforts to achieve liberty via expulsion of those who occupy the Palestinian people.”While there has been relative calm between Israel and the Gaza Strip, tensions have been rising following the release of US President Donald Trump’s “Deal of the Century” peace plan, which has been rejected by the terrorist group.Since the release of the plan, rockets and explosive balloons have been launched toward the South.On Friday night, sirens warning of an incoming rocket were activated in Sufa and Nir Yitzhak. The Eshkol Regional Council said the rocket landed harmlessly.Two hours earlier, sirens sounded in Sderot, and a projectile was intercepted by the Iron Dome missile-defense system, the IDF said. According to unconfirmed reports, shrapnel from the interceptor landed on a home in Sderot. No casualties were reported.The rocket fire came several hours after three mortar shells were fired from the Gaza Strip. In response, an IDF tank fired a shell at a Hamas observation post in the southern Gaza Strip. One of the mortar shells was intercepted by Iron Dome, while the other two landed in open areas, the IDF said.
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