A ball of fire from an Israeli interception missile from the Iron Dome defence system, is seen in the sky above the southern Israeli city of Sderot on Nov 13, 2019, as it intercepts an incoming short-range rocket launched from the Palestinian Gaza Strip. (PHOTO / AFP)
JERUSALEM – Israel closed Gaza Strip's offshore fishing zone early Monday, following overnight rocket fire from the Palestinian enclave, amid the worst flare-up in the region in recent months.
Israel's Coordinator of the Government Activities in the Territories Ghassan Alian said in a statement that Gaza's fishing area will be "completely closed" starting from 6:00 am local time on Monday until further announcement.
Israel's medical emergency services reported that four people in Sderot, including a pregnant woman, fell down and were lightly injured while running to take shelter as the sirens were heard
He said that the move was made in the wake of rocket fire from Gaza overnight between Sunday and Monday and following a security consultation.
He warned that Hamas, an Islamist Palestinian group that runs Gaza, should be held accountable for the violence and "will bear the consequences for any violence against the citizens of Israel."
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Overnight, militants in the Gaza Strip fired three rockets towards southern Israel, triggering sirens in the southern city of Sderot and communities in the vicinity of Gaza.
Two rockets were intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome anti-rocket system, according to a statement by the Israeli military.
A failed launch attempt was also detected. The rocket landed inside the Gaza Strip, the army said.
Israel's medical emergency services reported that four people in Sderot, including a pregnant woman, fell down and were lightly injured while running to take shelter as the sirens were heard.
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Violence in the region has been escalating since last week, with dozens of rockets fired at Israel and Israeli airstrikes against Hamas sites in Gaza. The escalation came amid tensions in east Jerusalem sparked by restrictions Israel imposed during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Gaza has been under an Israeli and Egyptian blockade since Hamas took power in 2007.