Israel/Palestinian Terr.: Iron Dome activated after Gaza gunfire March 25

Event

The Israeli Iron Dome missile defense system was activated on the evening of Sunday, March 25 (local time), in an apparent response to gunfire from the Gaza Strip. Israeli authorities did not immediately report Israeli casualties from the gunfire in Gaza. Hamas claimed that it had not fired any rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel. The Israeli military is reportedly investigating what prompted the activation of the Iron Dome.

Additionally, an Israeli tank fired on positions of the Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' military wing, in the Beit Hanoun area (northern Gaza Strip) on Sunday. Palestinian security forces reported no associated casualties. The assault followed the reported gunfire from Gaza, and took place amid a Hamas militant exercise that began Sunday, involving setting off explosions and shooting rockets into the Mediterranean Sea from the territory. Additional Israeli strikes on Hamas militant positions are possible in Gaza ahead of the scheduled tent city protests along the Israeli-Gazan border beginning March 30.

Context

In general, rocket fire and strikes between Israel and the Gaza Strip have intensified since early December 2017. Dozens of rockets and mortars have been fired from the Gaza Strip, followed by retaliatory Israeli airstrikes. Although the rockets are often fired by independent groups, the Israeli government holds Hamas responsible and regularly hits Hamas positions in retaliation.

"Land Day" is annually observed among Palestinians on March 30. It commemorates the events of that day in 1976 when six Arab-Israeli citizens were killed and hundreds more wounded or arrested amid a general strike and widespread protests over land confiscated by Israeli authorities.

Advice

Individuals present in Israel and the Palestinian Territories are advised to avoid all protests or other public gatherings due to the risk of violence and to monitor developments to the situation. Due to the underlying terrorist threat, travelers in Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip are advised to report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities and to remain vigilant when visiting sites deemed particularly likely to be targeted in an attack (public transportation, train stations, ports, airports, public or government buildings, embassies or consulates, international organizations, schools and universities, religious sites, markets, prominent hotels and restaurants, etc.). As a reminder, several Western governments advise their citizens against all travel to the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and areas near the Israeli-Lebanese, Israeli-Syrian, and Israeli-Egyptian borders.