A Qassam rocket launched from Gaza struck southern Israel on Monday, shattering a short period of calm. The rocket caused the Color Red warning siren to be sounded in Israeli communities bordering the Gaza Strip. The rocket exploded in an open area near the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council, and no injuries or damage were reported. The last rocket launch against Israel took place on Aug. 31. The Israel Defense Forces retaliated immediately by striking a weapons factory in Gaza. On Monday, Homefront Command chief Maj. Gen. Eyal Eisenberg announced that the IDF has discovered that Palestinian terrorists in Gaza are using a newer, more-advanced rocket against Israeli civilians.
