fbpx

Israel Lifts Restrictions on Southern Communities, But Uncertainty Looms Over Gaza Rockets

[additional-authors]
March 26, 2019
An Israeli soldier jumps off a tank in an open area near the border with Gaza, in southern Israel March 26, 2019. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

Israel will be lifting restrictions on its southern communities nearby the border of the Gaza Strip on March 27 after at least 30 rockets have been fired from Gaza toward Israel since March 25. However, there is some uncertainty after Israel launched another round of retaliatory strikes against Hamas.

The restrictions had included schools and some businesses being closed.

It started with two rockets from Gaza striking Tel Aviv at 5:20 a.m. Israeli time on March 25, destroying a home in the Mishmeret community and injuring seven people. Israel retaliated by striking several Hamas targets in Gaza later in the day; prompting more rocket fire from Gaza. Hamas claimed a ceasefire agreement was in place with Israel at around 10 p.m. Israeli time, but more rockets were since fired from Gaza and into the Eshkol and Shaar Hanegev regions. The Israeli government has denied that a ceasefire is in place.

Israel Defense Force (IDF) troops were sent to the Gaza border on March 26, and another rocket was fired from Gaza into Eshkol on the same day, although there were no reported injuries or damage. Israel reportedly launched more retaliatory strikes against Hamas later in the day.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cut his trip to Washington, D.C. short as a result of the rocket fire, forcing him to give his speech at the AIPAC Policy Conference via satellite.

“We responded with great force,” Netanyahu said during his speech. “In the last 24 hours, the IDF destroyed major Hamas terrorist installations on a scale not seen since the end of the military operation in Gaza four years ago.”

UPDATE: A Hamas rocket was reportedly shot down by the Iron Dome in the Ashkelon region. Israeli airstrikes against Hamas are ongoing.

Did you enjoy this article?
You'll love our roundtable.

Editor's Picks

Latest Articles

Print Issue: Got College? | Mar 29, 2024

With the alarming rise in antisemitism across many college campuses, choosing where to apply has become more complicated for Jewish high school seniors. Some are even looking at Israel.

More news and opinions than at a
Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.

More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.

More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.