Following death of senior Islamic Jihad leader, terror groups in Gaza shoot 25 rockets into Israel - seven injured, one seriously

PIJ, with other groups, claims responsibility for attack, calling it an ‘initial response’

Article updated at 6:43 pm Israel time.

Twenty-five rockets were fired into Israel on Tuesday after the Israel Defense Forces attacked sites in Gaza with tanks.

The IDF later confirmed that two rocket barrages, totaling some 25 rockets, were launched from Gaza toward Israeli within a five-minute period. Four of those rockets were intercepted, while 16 fell in open areas.

So far, five impact sites from the rocket barrage have been identified, with three in the city of Sderot. One was apparently a construction site and, according to medical officials, a foreign worker at the site was seriously injured by shrapnel, while six others sustained minor injuries.

The other two impact sites in Sderot were reportedly a residential home and a factory.

Israel under attack
Israeli kids escape from GAZA rocket #Israel
הבהלה בשדרות: ילדים רצים למרחב מוגן pic.twitter.com/pfAbTzl0AY
— linda begin 🍎 לינדה בגין (@linda39939554) May 2, 2023

The IDF warned residents in Gaza to stay near shelters before it targeted the sites in Gaza. Moments later, the rockets were launched into Israel from Gaza.

Following the IDF instruction, the Israel Police also told residents to stay alert for further instructions.

"We call on the public to obey the instructions of the police and the Home Front Command, to remain near protected areas, and to refrain from reaching the scenes of the fall in order to allow the forces to operate," the police said. About one hour later, residents were told they no longer needed to shelter in place.

It is believed the IDF targeted sites related to this morning’s launch of three rockets into Israel following the announcement of Sheikh Khader Adnan’s death.

The so-called “Joint Operations Room,” a collection of various Palestinian terror factions, issued a statement claiming responsibility for the rocket attack, calling it an “initial response to the heinous crime” of killing Adnan.

“We declare our responsibility,” the group said, for the “rocket barrages this evening, and this comes as an initial response to this heinous crime, which will explode responses from our people in all squares and places of clashes, with the help of God Almighty."

The group called Adnan's death a "Zionist assassination."

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant conducted an assessment with IDF Chief Herzi Halevi following the rocket attack.

“Anyone who attempts to harm the citizens of Israel will be sorry,” Gallant said in a statement.