2nd Time in 24 Hours: Iron Dome Activated near Gaza

Residents report hearing a loud blast, but no air raid sirens were activated.

By United with Israel Staff

The Iron Dome missile defense system on Monday was activated in the area of the Sdot Negev Regional Council, near the Gaza border, Ynet reported.

According to the report, two interceptors were fired. Residents reported hearing a loud blast. However, no air raid sirens were activated and no special instructions were received from IDF Home Front Command.

Residents were told no rocket fire was directed at Israeli territory, according to the report.

When the blast was heard, preschoolers playing outside at the Kibbutz Nahal Oz were rushed into a bomb shelter.

“We immediately calmed the children down and explained that there was no siren and there’s no need to panic. They’re already accustomed to such situations. For now, we’ve returned to normal,” one of the kibbutz residents said, according to Ynet.

On Sunday morning, the IDF announced that it had successfully intercepted a drone flying from Gaza toward Israeli territory.

According to the IDF,  Israeli Air Force systems monitored the UAV from its takeoff, and the UAV did not cross into Israeli territory.

The IDF added that UAV “did not pose a threat to residents of southern Israel.” As such, no alert systems were activated.

The incident follows a string of similar incidents in recent months during which the IDF has shot down drones emanating from Gaza.

Earlier this month, the Israeli Defense Ministry announced that Israeli authorities had thwarted an attempt to smuggle 10 reconnaissance drones into Gaza.

The ministry said the drones were being delivered to Gaza terror groups and were being hidden inside a bag on a minibus at the Erez border crossing along the northern Gaza Strip.

The drones were identified when a trained guard dog identified a suspicious package inside the bag and signaled to its handlers by sitting on top of the bag.