A rocket launched from the Gaza Strip early this morning landed in a open field in the Sh’ar Hanegev Regional Council. No damage or injuries have been reported. Iron Dome did not intercept it, as the radar realized it was going to land where it could not cause any harm. Israeli Air Force jets hit at least one target in Gaza in retaliation.

No Palestinian organization has  claimed responsibility for the attack. The rocket was detected in open areas in the vicinity of Kibbutz Kfar Aza.

Sha’ar Hanegev is a regional council (Israeli equivalent of a county) composed of agricultural settlements (kibbutzim and moshavim) south east of Ashkelon, near Sderot. This is the fourth rocket attack launched against Israel from either Gaza or Sinai since the beginning of 2017.

Ahead of the State Comptroller’s Report release on the tunnels threat and 2014 Operation Protective Edge, and in light of recent rocket launched in the region, Head of Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council Alon Schuster reacted in the following terms:

“We, in the regional council have the responsibility to maintain the daily lives of the regional residents. We will not let fire from the Gaza Strip to disrupt our lives. We trust the IDF which works day and night, will continue to maintain the security of the residents and their ability to feel safe.”

Hamas is not seen as a likely suspect for the rocket of Monday morning, as it has no interest in hostilities at this time. However there are several small Salafist groups active in Gaza, some of them cooperate with Daesh (ISIS) in Sinai. Daesh Sinai launched the recent rocket attack against Eilat.