|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Residents report hearing a loud blast, but no air raid sirens were activated.
By: United with Israel Staff
The Iron Dome missile defense system on Monday was activated in the area of the Sdot Negev Regional Council, near the Gaza border, Ynet reported.
According to the report, two interceptors were fired. Residents reported hearing a loud blast. However, no air raid sirens were activated and no special instructions were received from IDF Home Front Command.
Residents were told no rocket fire was directed at Israeli territory, according to the report.
When the blast was heard, preschoolers playing outside at the Kibbutz Nahal Oz were rushed into a bomb shelter.
“We immediately calmed the children down and explained that there was no siren and there’s no need to panic. They’re already accustomed to such situations. For now, we’ve returned to normal,” one of the kibbutz residents said, according to Ynet.
On Sunday morning, the IDF announced that it had successfully intercepted a drone flying from Gaza toward Israeli territory.
According to the IDF, Israeli Air Force systems monitored the UAV from its takeoff, and the UAV did not cross into Israeli territory.
The IDF added that UAV “did not pose a threat to residents of southern Israel.” As such, no alert systems were activated.
The incident follows a string of similar incidents in recent months during which the IDF has shot down drones emanating from Gaza.
Earlier this month, the Israeli Defense Ministry announced that Israeli authorities had thwarted an attempt to smuggle 10 reconnaissance drones into Gaza.
The ministry said the drones were being delivered to Gaza terror groups and were being hidden inside a bag on a minibus at the Erez border crossing along the northern Gaza Strip.
The drones were identified when a trained guard dog identified a suspicious package inside the bag and signaled to its handlers by sitting on top of the bag.
In other Israel related news, JNS.org reported on Monday that an Israeli who was attacked after mistakenly entering Turmus Ayya on Sunday night was evacuated by Israeli forces with minor injuries.
Upon entering the Palestinian town, located some 14 miles northeast of Ramallah in Samaria, local residents surrounded and stoned him, and torched his car, according to the Israel Defense Forces.
Israeli soldiers were alerted to the scene, and escorted the man out.
The man was treated for a minor injury caused by a hurled stone, according to the Rescuers Without Borders emergency service. No injuries to Israeli troops were reported.
Turmus Ayya is in the Palestinian Authority-controlled Area A of Judea and Samaria, which is illegal for Israeli civilians to enter. Road signs warn Israelis that entry into Area A is both life-threatening and a criminal offense.
Separately on Sunday night, shots were reportedly fired at the Israeli village of Avnei Hefetz in western Samaria. No injuries or damage were reported.
Overnight, Israeli forces arrested 13 suspects throughout Judea and Samaria.
In the village of Deir Abu Mash’al, suspects threw stones at Israeli forces, who responded with crowd dispersal measures. In Kfar Aqab, suspects threw stones and firebombs at Israel forces, who made two arrests and confiscated an automatic rifle. A suspect was arrested in Kfar Azon and an airsoft rifle and military equipment were seized. Suspects in Kfar Azon threw explosives and launched fireworks at Israeli forces.
(UnitedWithIsrael.org & JNS.org)
