GAZA CITY: A rocket was fired from the Gaza Strip towards southern Israel, according to the Israeli military, just one day after an Egyptian-mediated ceasefire brought an end to five days of intense cross-border fighting.
The rocket launch was followed by explosions in northern Gaza, with Hamas, the Palestinian group that controls the territory, reporting that an outpost had been struck by Israel. The Israeli military declined to comment on the incident.
Hamas stated on its Voice of Al-Aqsa radio station that the rocket launch from Gaza was a result of a “technical error” and asserted that it is still upholding the ceasefire.
However, sirens went off in several southern Israeli towns just before sundown, causing residents to seek shelter, despite the truce that went into effect on Saturday at 10 pm local time (19:00 GMT). The Israeli military confirmed that a single rocket fired from Gaza hit an open area.
Violence in Gaza
This recent attack comes after Cairo, which brokered the ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement in Gaza, called on all parties to adhere to the agreement.
Since the bombardment began on Tuesday, at least 33 Palestinians, including children, have been killed, and 147 others have been wounded in the besieged enclave.
One Israeli citizen has also lost their life. The fighting has caused significant damage to essential infrastructure throughout the Gaza Strip, as reported by the United Nations.
Omar Shakir, the Palestine and Israel director of Human Rights Watch, cautioned on Saturday that a ceasefire in Gaza that maintains the status quo in the coastal enclave would be unsustainable as long as Israel’s siege and occupation continue.
