First Gaza rocket fired into Israel since May

Rocket launch is the first by Gaza terrorists into Israel since the end of Operation Guardian of the Walls in May. 

 Iron dome anti-missile system fires interception missiles as rockets fired from the Gaza Strip to Israel, in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon, May 19, 2021.  (photo credit: OLIVIER FITOUSSI/FLASH90)
Iron dome anti-missile system fires interception missiles as rockets fired from the Gaza Strip to Israel, in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon, May 19, 2021.
(photo credit: OLIVIER FITOUSSI/FLASH90)

Rocket sirens sounded near the southern town of Sderot on Monday after a single rocket was fired into Israel from the Gaza Strip. It was the first rocket fired from Gaza towards Israel since the end of Operation Guardian of the Walls in May. 

The IDF confirmed that a rocket had been fired from Gaza and although a second rocket appears to have also been fired, it fell inside the Gaza Strip.

Videos uploaded to social media showed smoke trails of what appeared to be an Iron Dome interceptor that was launched at the incoming rocket. 

No casualties were reported. 

Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip were set to meet on Monday afternoon to discuss "important national issues" soon after the rockets were fired.

Earlier on Monday, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group stated that they were holding Israel responsible for the  Palestinian deaths in Jenin earlier

Four Palestinians were killed by Israeli security forces in the West Bank city of Jenin in the early hours of Monday after a firefight broke out during an arrest raid.

The operation by the Israel Border Police’s Special Patrol Unit (Yasam) and other teams was aimed at apprehending Mohammed Abu Zaina, a Hamas suspect suspected of involvement in terror activity. 

Yesterday, Palestinians warned that Israel and Hamas were headed toward another round of fighting, because international mediators appear to have failed to achieve a breakthrough on bringing Qatari aid money to the Gaza Strip and on easing Israeli restrictions around the enclave.

Israel’s refusal to ease restrictions and facilitate the reconstruction of homes destroyed during the 11-day war with Hamas in May means that the countdown for another military confrontation has begun, the Palestinians said.

Khaled Abu Toameh contributed to this report.