Damage caused to a house in the rocket attack from the Gaza Strip December 17 2017 . (photo credit: קבוצת חמ"ל קב"טים)
The IDF Spokesperson's Unit confirmed Red Alert sirens heard in the Hof Ashkelon Regional Council early Monday morning were caused by a rocket shot from the Gaza Strip toward Israel that did not reach Israeli territory.
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In response to the rocket fire, the Israeli Air Force struck Hamas targets inside Gaza.
According to Ynet, the IAF targeted a Hamas training compound in the strike.
Earlier this evening, rockets fired from the Gaza Strip damaged a home in the area, as two rockets landed in Israeli territory.
Head of the Sdot Negev Regional Council Tamir Idan said in response to the earlier incidents that, "We expect and demand that the security forces will respond strongly and make it clear to the terrorist that the state of Israel is determined not to allow such firing [of rockets] to continue."
"We are not prepared that an emergency situation will become our daily routine," he said.
Over a dozen rockets have been fired toward Israeli territory over the past weeks and the IDF has generally retaliated against Hamas targets in the Strip with airstrikes and artillery fire in response, including tonight's strike.
As policy commands and "in response to the rocket fired from the Gaza Strip at Israel earlier today, the IAF targeted a Hamas military compound in the southern Gaza Strip," read a statement released by IDF Spokesperson Unit after an IAF strike last Wednesday night.
Tensions along Israel's border with the Gaza Strip have been high as of late, after US President Donald Trump announced that the United States recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. His declaration set off riots across the West Bank, Jerusalem and Gaza.
Militant groups in Gaza, including Hamas, have called for a new Palestinian uprising — or intifada — over Trump’s statement.
Anna Ahronheim and Ma'ariv Online contributed to this report.