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On January 1, two rockets fired from the Gaza Strip targeted Israel, but fell into the Mediterranean Sea. No casualties or damage were reported, only blasts were heard in central Israel.
“Earlier this morning, two rocket launches were identified from the Gaza Strip toward the Mediterranean. The rockets fell off the coast of the Tel Aviv metropolitan area. According to protocol, no sirens were sounded and no interception took place,” the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said in a statement.
According to local reports, one rocket fell near Tel Aviv while the other landed near the kibbutz of Palmahim, south of Tel Aviv.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the rocket firing.
Apparently, Hamas militants conducted test launches of some new shells towards the sea. However, such test launches are usually carried towards the West.
A source in Hamas told a Palestinian news agency that stormy weather in Gaza caused a malfunction which triggered the launch of the rockets. The source, however, added that “it wasn’t clear who had launched the rockets, if any were launched.”
Video from Gaza reportedly shows the two rocket launches toward the coast of Tel Aviv this morning pic.twitter.com/EPoAQIpy6T
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) January 1, 2022
Egypt, which has been playing a mediating role, reportedly sent a message to Israel that the rocket attack was not intentional. In his turn, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett held consultations over Shabbat regarding the rocket fire.
Such a mistake allegedly caused by weather conditions may become a reason for Israeli military response, as it is not the first time this excuse has been used to explain the firing of projectiles toward Israel. Chief of Israeli Staff Aviv Kohavi was to hold assessments on the matter. Civilians were ordered to stay away from land near the Gaza border.
They should test their missiles on Netanyahu’s house.
Isisrael is overreacting as usual. It was a deliberate warning shot I guess. They responded with real destruction.