Two Fajr missiles were fired at Tel Aviv from Gaza last night, for the first time since 2014. Nine rockets in total were fired at Israel yesterday, with the Iron Dome intercepting six of them.
There were no reports of injuries or damage, although rocket fragments were discovered in a school in the southern Israeli town of Sderot.
Middle East Minister Rt. Hon. Alistair Burt MP condemned the attacks, stating: “Deeply concerned by events in Israel last night. Launching of rockets towards Tel Aviv is appalling and completely unacceptable”.
Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Resistance Committees have denied responsibility for the missile attacks. As rulers of the Gaza Strip, the Israeli military holds Hamas responsible for all missile fire emanating from the territory.
Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire, the Kan public broadcaster and Palestinian media reported this morning.
Overnight, the Israeli air force hit 100 targets in Gaza, bombing Hamas’s headquarters in Gaza City, an underground missile facility and military posts. There were no reported casualties and the Gaza Health Ministry said that four people suffered light injuries.
Prime Minister and Defence Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held an emergency security meeting in army headquarters in Tel Aviv.
The missile launches have come less than a month before the Israel’s general election on 9th April, and two months before Tel Aviv is due to host the Eurovision Song Contest, a major international event that is expected to draw many thousands of tourists from all over Europe.
