Rocket fired from Gaza at southern Israel, intercepted – IDF

The government on Wednesday faced its first challenge as to how it would respond to rocket fire from the Gaza Strip after sirens sounded early in the evening in Sderot, Ivim and Nir Am and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for an immediate meeting of the security cabinet to determine what action should be taken.

Local residents in Sderot reported hearing a loud explosion shortly after the sirens sounded and the IDF confirmed that the Iron Dome air-defense system intercepted a rocket that had been launched from the Palestinian coastal enclave.

The Sderot Municipality said in a statement later on Wednesday that no direct hits were reported in the city and the Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council also confirmed that no rockets landed within its jurisdiction.

Islamic Jihad takes responsibility for Gaza Strip rocket launch

Palestinian Islamic Jihad appeared to take responsibility for the launch on Wednesday night, writing on pieces of paper attached to the rockets that “[harming] female prisoners is a red line,” in a video released shortly after the rocket launch.

According to the video, the attack was a direct response to another video published by a Palestinian female prisoner in Damon Prison, who called on Palestinian terrorist groups to “show determination to teach the enemy not to harm our women” after she claimed she was mistreated in the Israeli prison.

The Palestinian prisoners at the prison, who were rioting and attempted to torch one of the cells, according to the Israeli Prison Service, were then beaten and sprayed with pepper spray, as per unconfirmed Palestinian reports.

Ben-Gvir, Israeli Prison Service and Palestinian threats

Since entering office, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who oversees the IPS, has made several moves aimed at imposing severe restrictions on Palestinian prisoners jailed for involvement in terrorist attacks.

Last week, a petition filed to the High Court claimed that the IPS barred medical staff in jails across Israel from giving updates to families on the health condition of prisoners

The actions taken by the IPS and Ben-Gvir prompted Qadri Abu Bakr, chairman of the Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs Commission, to declare that Ben-Gvir’s plans could lead to a “general insurrection” in Israeli prisons.

This is a developing story.