WarSclerotic

Sirens blared in southern Israel overnight Wednesday after a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip exploded in an open field in the Eshkol region, the IDF confirmed in a statement.

The IDF said one of its tanks fired at a Hamas military post in southern Gaza in response to the rocket attack.

There were no reports of damage or injuries on either side.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the rocket launch. Israel has maintained that it holds Gaza’s Hamas rulers for all fire emanating from the territory.

Palestinian news outlets on Wednesday night reported that two additional rockets had been fired from Gaza but landed inside the Strip.

Earlier this week, Lebanese newspaper Al Akhbar reported that a Friday meeting in Gaza between Hamas representatives, the United Nations envoy to the Middle East and Egyptian intelligence officials resulted in an agreement to maintain quiet on the Israeli front.

Meanwhile, according to a Channel 12 news report, Israel has sent messages to Hamas warning it to cease the weekly border riots or risk facing an Israeli military campaign despite the upcoming general election on April 9.

“Hamas was warned – the election is not a restraining factor,” Israeli officials reportedly told Hamas via third-party mediators.