Air-Raid Sirens Sounding in Southern Israel as Two Rockets Fired from Gaza - IDF

Earlier in the day, Israeli defence forces reported that the country's air force conducted airstrikes on Hamas targets in Gaza Strip as a response to arson balloons launched from Gaza, adding Israel was holding Hamas responsible.

TEL AVIV (Sputnik) — Two rockets have been launched from the Gaza Strip at the Israeli territory in the early hours of Thursday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said.

"Israeli families in southern Israel are jolted awake by the sound of air-raid sirens as 2 rockets are fired from #Gaza at #Israel," the IDF wrote on Twitter.

5:37AM
Israeli families in southern Israel are jolted awake by the sound of air-raid sirens as 2 rockets are fired from #Gaza at #Israel. pic.twitter.com/M1EtUZ960x

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) May 2, 2019

Relations between the Israel and Palestine have been poor for decades. The Palestine seeking diplomatic recognition of an independent state on the territories of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which is partially occupied by Israel, and the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli government refuses to recognise a Palestinian independent political and diplomatic entity, and continues to build settlements on the occupied areas, despite objections from the United Nations.