The Israeli army on Sunday said two projectiles were fired towards Israel from the Gaza Strip. Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the rocket launch.
“Two projectiles were identified crossing from the central Gaza Strip into Israeli territory. Air raid sirens sounded in the area of Netivot,” the army said, according to AFP. One rocket was intercepted, while the other landed in an open field. No casualties or damage were reported.
The attack was the first in months to threaten Netivot, a town of 50,000 people located just 10 kilometres from Gaza. Islamic Jihad’s armed wing described the strike as retaliation for “the crimes committed by the Zionist enemy against our people.”
The Islamic Jihad has fought alongside its fellow Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza against Israeli forces.
The launches came as Israeli forces intensified their push around Gaza City, the enclave’s largest urban hub. Israel has declared it intends to take over the city in a bid to defeat Hamas and secure the return of hostages taken by the group during its October 7, 2023 attack, which triggered the ongoing conflict.
On Saturday, the army flattened a high-rise for the second consecutive day and dropped thousands of leaflets urging civilians in western neighbourhoods to evacuate.
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