Rocket alert sirens blared Friday morning in the Eshkol Regional Council and the Ashkelon Coast Regional Council as four rockets were launched from Gaza at southern Israel.
The Iron Dome rocket defense system intercepted one rocket, while another fell in an uninhabited area of the Ashkelon Coastal Region and two hit open areas in the Eshkol Regional Council. No damage or injuries were initially reported.
IDF airstrikes hit more than 20 terror targets in Gaza overnight between Thursday and Friday in relation for projectile attacks the previous day, a military spokeswoman confirmed.
Palestinian medical sources reported that one person was killed during the IAF strikes overnight in central Gaza's Deir al-Balah.
After the killing of three of its senior commanders by Israel on Thursday, Hamas vowed early Friday that it would be 'strengthened' in its quest 'to lift the siege on Gaza' and 'liberate Jerusalem and Palestine from the neo-Nazi occupier who destroys houses and kills women and children.'
Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas was expected to meet on Friday with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo to discuss the conflict between Israel and Palestinian factions in Gaza, Reuters reported.
Hamas official Izzat al-Risheq, however, denied reports that exiled Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal was also slated to visit the Egyptian capital.
On Thursday, Abbas and Mashaal met in Doha to discuss ways of resuming the indirect talks with Israel over a long-term cease-fire in the Gaza Strip. The meeting was held in the presence of the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.
After fighting resumed, Israeli and Palestinian delegates left indirect negotiation in Cairo that were aiming to secure a long-term truce. Egypt said it would continue contact with both sides.
Khaled Abu Toameh and Reuters contributed to this report.
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