A barrage of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip targeted southern Israel, the Shfela region and the Haifa area hours after Israel agreed to an Egyptian ceasefire initiative effective as of 9 a.m.
Code Red rocket alert sirens sounded in several western Negev communities bordering Gaza , as well as in Ashdod, Ashkelon, Kiryat Malachi and Gan Yavne. The rocket fired then moved north to Rehovot, Ness Ziona and Rishon Lezion. The IDF was still checking the source of Code Red sirens that went off shortly afterward in Binyamina , Zichron Ya\’akov and the Haifa area.
One of the rockets landed in the courtyard of a house in Ashdod, while another rocket hit a warehouse in the Sha\’ar Hanegev Regional Council. No injuries were reported in the attacks.
The Iron Dome intercepted several rockets over Ashdod and at least one in Netivot. A soldier was lightly wounded by shrapnel in Sderot.
Hamas took responsibility for the rocket fire.
The IDF stated that the government had instructed it to refrain from responding to the rocket attacks as part of the ceasefire deal.
The Security Cabinet Sunday morning accepted the Egyptian proposal for a ceasefire that, from Israel\’s perspective, went into effect at 9:00 am.
The IDF said just after noon on Tuesday that 35 rockets had been fired into Israel from Gaza since Israel accepted the ceasefire initiative.
Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman in Gaza, said earlier on Tuesday that the Islamist group had not received an official ceasefire proposal, and he repeated its position that demands it has made must be met before it lays down its weapons.
Hamas\’s armed wing, the Kassam Brigades, rejected the reported text of the truce deal, saying: "Our battle with the enemy continues and will increase in ferocity and intensity."
Diplomatic officials said the security cabinet\’s decision to halt the operation at this point will give Israel international legitimacy to continue with widespread military action if Hamas does not stop its rocket attacks.
The eight-person forum also decided that if Hamas violates the ceasefire, Israel will act forcefully. Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman and Economy Minister Naftali Bennett are believed to have voted against accepting the deal.
The security cabinet also decided to launch an international campaign aimed at dismantling Hamas\’ rocket stockpiles, and closing the tunnels inside Gaza.