Rocket fired from Gaza lands in Negev
Projectile hits open area in western Negev despite ceasefire declared by armed Palestinian groups following IDF offensive in Hamas-controlled Gaza; no injuries reported. Council head: We expect the government to retaliate
The Color Red alert sounded throughout the area ahead of the landing.
"We expect the government to retaliate rather than exercise restraint, in order to keep the residents safe," said Haim Yalin, head of the Eshkol Regional Council.
Earlier, several Color Red alerts sounded throughout the Nahal Oz and Alomim communities, but subsequent IDF inquires deemed them to be false alarms. Nevertheless, some of the local residents insisted a rocket landed in the area.
Hamas distributed photos of a rocket being launched at Israel, but the IDF insisted they were not taken during the day.
The IDF Spokesperson's Unit said that "the false alarms were the result of the launching-identification system being on its highest detection mode, in order to meet the needs of the entire sector. This was not a repeating malfunction and the Home Front Command in looking into every case."
"Over the years the alarms have saved countless lives," said Yalin earlier. "The system can sound at times of peace as well, for many reasons, not necessarily due to rocket fire. We would rather have false alarms than none at all."
Uri Dan, Nir Oz's security officer added: "This is not a real calm but rather a fragile status quo."
