IDF Responds as Gaza Terrorists Fire Three More Rockets at Israel

Three more rockets were fired at Israel early Sunday by Gaza Arab terrorists, after two were fired at the end of Shabbos the night before. Red Alert sirens sounded in communities near the Gaza border fence. One of Sunday’s rockets was exploded in mid-air by Iron Dome defensive missiles, while a second fell in an open area in the border fence region. The third fell on the Gaza side of the security fence. No injuries or damage were reported on the Israeli side.

In response, Israeli forces hit Hamas terror targets early Sunday. That attack followed one on Motzoei Shabbos, which came in response to the previous evening’s rocket fire. Eshkol Regional Council chairman Gadi Yarkoni said Motzoei Shabbos that “the events of this weekend do not constitute ‘quiet.’ We will not accept the return of sporadic missile fire at our communities. We are in constant contact with the army, and so far there is no change in the instructions to residents.”

IDF soldiers Sunday morning arrested an Arab who entered Israel from Gaza, after sneaking past the security fence. He was not armed, army sources said. The Arab was arrested and taken in for questioning. In addition, the IDF said, it arrested two terrorists who had attempted to enter the town of Mitzpe Yishai in Shomron. Under questioning, the two revealed that they had hidden weapons next to the town that they planned to retrieve and use in a terror attack.

IDF soldiers overnight Saturday seized terror funds from Arabs in Chevron. The money was part of payments made by Hamas and the Palestinian Authority to the families of terrorists for committing terror acts against Israelis, officials said. Weapons for use in terror attacks were also found in the city.

Overnight Motzoei Shabbos, security officials said they arrested seven wanted security suspects in other areas in Yehudah and Shomron. The suspects were wanted for participating in rioting and throwing stones and firebombs that endangered Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers. Several of the suspects were also charged with belonging to Hamas. All were being questioned on their activities by security forces.