Iron Dome missiles fired in response to Gaza gunfire, not rockets

What was thought to be missiles that triggered the red alerts and Iron Dome missiles turned out to be gunfire in the Gaza Strip as Hamas holds a military exercise.

By: TPS and World Israel News

Several Code Red alarms sounded in the South Sunday evening and Iron Dome defense batteries responded to what was thought to be missiles fired from the Gaza Strip.

IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Ronen Menlis told military reporters that there had been no missile attack on southern Israel and that nothing out of the ordinary had happened in the region. “All the Code Red sirens sounded following automatic gunfire emanating from Gaza. No missiles landed in Israeli territory. The IDF will study the event in order to figure out why the sirens went off,” Menlis said.

The Hamas terror group, which rules the Strip, detonated bombs and fired machine guns in the streets in a 24-hour exercise that began Sunday morning.

The first sirens sounded around 10:30 p.m. in the Hof Ashkelon and Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council areas.

Ashkelon city officials said that no rockets were fired at the city. “City officials are in constant contact with the IDF Home Front Command, which said there are no special instructions for residents at this time. Residents should continue with their usual routines.

United Hatzalah’s Psychotrauma and Crisis Response Unit is treating several shock victims. “Currently six people are being treated but it is still early after the explosions. More people may require treatment or come forward and ask for help as the night goes on,” the EMS organization stated. “The patients are one local woman and five tourists who are part of a group that happened to be in Sderot when the sirens went off.”

Tensions have been high in recent weeks. Israel’s Air Force (IAF) on Saturday night targeted a Hamas terror target in a military compound in Rafah, southern Gaza, in response to a cross-border provocation earlier in the day. There were several recent attempts by Gaza terrorists to deploy and detonate explosive devices against IDF forces in the area.

Hamas plans to lead a mass march on Israel’s border this coming Friday.