A Gaza rocket that fell in an Eshkol Regional Council field in Israel. Photo: Ronit Minaker.

The Israeli Air Force targeted a terror site and a weapons factory in Gaza overnight, hours after a rocket fired from the territory struck the southern Israeli city of Netivot, the IDF said in a statement.

The IDF confirmed direct hits on the targets.

IDF Spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner, said, “Israelis cannot be held at the mercy of these hideous terrorists operating from Hamas Gaza Strip. The bases of Gaza terrorism and its industry of death will not be immune while our citizens are being attacked. It is our responsibility, right and obligation to defend Israel from Gaza based aggression.”

Since the beginning of the year, a number of projectiles have been fired at Israel from Gaza, including during the funeral of former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. The IAF has responded by targeting terror bases and operatives.

The IDF has consistently said that it holds terror group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, responsible for all terror attacks against Israel emanating from within the coastal enclave.