Southern Israel hit by Gaza rocket for first time in 3 months

A long-range rocket fired from Gaza hit southern Israel for the first time in three months, causing some damage. The rocket struck Feb. 26 in the industrial zone of Ashkelon.

The al-Aksa Martyrs Brigade, the military wing of the Fatah party led by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, claimed responsibility for the strike, saying it was in response to the death of Arafat Jaradat, a Palestinian man who died in an Israeli jail on Feb. 23.

The last time a rocket from Gaza struck Israel was during last November’s Pillar of Defense, an eight-day defensive operation by the Israeli army. Some 1,500 rockets were fired from Gaza on southern Israel during the operation.

No color-red alert was sounded to warn residents of the approaching rocket. A military source told Ynet that the alert did not sound because it was believed the rocket would hit an unpopulated area. — jta