The remnants of a past Gaza rocket fired into southern Israel. Photo: Ronit Minaker.

JNS.org – The Israeli Air Force (IAF) launched retaliatory airstrikes on two Hamas terror targets in Gaza early Tuesday, in response to the first rocket fired into Israeli territory since March.

Palestinian sources said the Israeli strikes hit at least three locations, including Rafah, Gaza City and an open area southeast of Gaza City. A rocket had landed in an open area Monday in Israel’s northwestern Negev, causing no injuries or damage. A jihadist group affiliated with Islamic State claimed responsibility for the rocket fire, but Israel holds Gaza-ruling Hamas responsible for all rockets launched from the coastal territory.

“Since the terror organization Hamas is the ruler of the Gaza Strip, it is responsible for any attempt to harm the state of Israel,” the IDF said Tuesday.

In March, the IAF struck targets in northern Gaza in response to a rocket that hit an open area in southern Israel.