An Israel Defense Forces spokesperson said this morning that Israeli jets had struck Hamas targets overnight after Gazan operatives fired a salvo of 13 rockets at Israel.

Incoming-rocket alarms sounded in the southern cities of Ashdod and Ashkelon. A warning band appeared on Israeli TV screens just as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu finished his White House speech, urging residents of the south to enter bomb shelters. Three people were reportedly injured by the rocket launched at Ashdod.

The 13 rockets were fired at Israel throughout the night, with eight of them intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system. The IDF now believes the rockets were fired by the Islamic Jihad. The IDF said schools in communities near the border fence could reopen this morning, though all are expected to close on Friday afternoon for three weeks, as part of a nationwide lockdown against the coronavirus.

Speaking on his way back from Washington after signing the normalization agreements with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, Netanyahu stated that the Palestinians were trying to hinder peace efforts and pledged that they would not do so. “I am not surprised that Palestinian terrorists fired at Israel exactly during this historic ceremony. They want to set back peace. They won’t succeed in doing so. We will strike all those who reach out to harm us and we will extend a hand in peace to all those whose hands are extended in peace to us,” said Netanyahu.