Rocket siren sounds in southern Israel in false alarm

Red alert sirens blared in the Hof Ashkelon coastal region in southern Israel Sunday morning, indicating an incoming rocket from the Gaza Strip.

There were no indications of a rocket falling in Israeli territory, with initial reports saying either that it was a rocket had fallen inside Palestinian territory, on the western side of the border security fence between Israel and the Strip. Later reports clarified that it had been a false alarm, and that no rockets had been fired from Gaza.

Recent weeks have seen several rocket attacks from Gaza, the first since the conclusion of the war between Israel and armed groups in the coastal territory last summer.

On June 12, a Gaza-based Salafi group affiliated with the Islamic State claimed responsibility for a rocket launched at Israeli territory. A pamphlet published by the group stated that the attack came in response to “crimes committed by the Jews against members of Sheikh Amer al-Hadid Beit al Maqdis,” the Hebrew-language website NRG reported.

The rocket attack followed several incidents where one or two projectiles were fired at Israel over the past weeks. Israeli jets on June 7 struck targets in Gaza in retaliation for a rocket fired earlier that day. A week earlier, a rocket fired from Gaza landed in an open area near Ashkelon, where residents reported hearing at least one explosion.

While the IDF believes Hamas is not interested in another round of violence, the defense establishment has repeatedly said it holds Hamas solely responsible for any violence coming out of the Gaza Strip, where Hamas is de facto in control.

AP contributed to this report.