Police call off security alert in south, mum on details
Residents told to return to normal, hours after officers set up roadblocks and advised caution over undisclosed threat
Police gave the all-clear to residents of southern Israel Thursday morning, after issuing an alert over an undisclosed security threat the night before.
“Following the security alert in the Negev region, the suspicion has been lifted and [residents] can go about their routines,” police said in a statement.
The statement did not disclose what the security threat had been or why it was called off.
On Wednesday night, police set up roadblocks across southern Israel and advised area residents to remain alert to anything suspicious.
Army Radio reported that security precautions were put in place following an intelligence tip that there might have been an infiltration of a person or persons from the Gaza Strip.
“At this point, there are no special instructions for the public, and they can continue to go about their lives, but should be alert to suspicious people or objects,” a statement from police spokesperson Luba Samri read.
The alert came days after tensions in southern Israel spiked, following a rocket attack from Gaza on the border town of Sderot, and a large Israeli bombardment of sites belonging to the Hamas terror group in the Strip in response.
Both Israel and Hamas have signaled since the Sunday exchange that they are seeking a return to a tense calm that has been maintained along the border since a 2014 war ended.