Rockets fired from Gaza
After several weeks of relative quiet, Israel now suspects that Hamas, Islamic Jihad, or both are trying to escalate pressure on Israel and on Egypt.
Two rockets were fired the morning of Jan. 1 from the Gaza Strip towards Israel. The rockets exploded over the Mediterranean Sea, with no injuries or material damages registered. One detonated not far off the coast of Tel Aviv; the other exploded further away at sea. Since the rockets were far from urban centers, IDF Spokesperson Unit said, "According to protocol, no sirens were sounded and no interception took place."
No Palestinian group has taken responsibility for the rocket fire. Reportedly, Hamas passed a message to Israel via Egypt, claiming the launch was a result of a malfunction triggered by a lightning storm and was not instigated by the group. Still, reports in Israel claimed the Islamic Jihad was in fact behind the launch, with Hamas tacitly agreeing to the move.
