The Iron Dome battery in Ashkelon. Photo: Israel Defense Forces.

JNS.org – The Israel Defense Forces placed soldiers and Iron Dome missile defense battery teams along the Israel-Gaza border on high alert Thursday ahead of Rosh Hashanah. Defense officials, however, stressed that Israel had no concrete indication that Hamas plans to violate the cease-fire over the High Holidays.

Five Color Red alerts sounded across the Hof Ashkelon and Shaar Hanegev regional councils on Thursday, placing the area’s residents on edge. The IDF confirmed that all five warnings were false alarms, most likely triggered by light weaponry fire within Gaza. Nevertheless, the military urged public vigilance.

In a meeting with mayors and community leaders on Thursday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “The Islamic State group, Hezbollah, Hamas—we are not without our challenges, but God willing we will overcome them all. We have proven that ability since the early days of Zionism.”