Gaza-based terrorists launched a rocket at Israel on Monday night. The rocket exploded near the border fence inside the Strip, causing no injuries or damage.

A siren went off at the Kerem Shalom area.

The IDF has yet to respond to the attack.

This is the second attack from Gaza in a few days.

Terrorists launched fired two rockets at the city of Ashkelon in southern Israel. The Iron Dome Aerial Defense System intercepted both rockets.

Three people were treated for light injuries incurred while running for shelter.

In response, the IAF struck Hamas terror targets including, a rocket manufacturing site, underground infrastructure, and a military post.

Israel entered a countrywide lockdown on Sunday night, the country’s third nationwide Coronavirus (COVID-19) closure in 10 months.

Some 380 roadblocks were deployed on main routes throughout the country after 5 PM, causing heavy congestion at many locations.

The two-week lockdown, which can be extended for another two weeks, will end when the basic reproduction number (R) falls below 1 and the number of new cases per day falls below 1,000.

All commerce and recreation are completely closed except for deliveries, and public transportation will be reduced to 50%.

The education system is partially closed. Special education is running as usual.

Israel’s Operation “Lend a Shoulder” to inoculate the population against COVID-19 will continue iמ full force.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday before the closure commenced, Israel’s Corona czar Prof. Nachman Ash said that the closure “is not easy and not simple, but it is the responsible step and what it takes to save lives.”

“Citizens must adhere to the guidelines, and together we can gain control of the virus and progress toward a better horizon thanks to vaccines,” he stated.

The Ministry of Health updated Monday morning that it recorded 3,498 new cases in the past 24 hours.

Of the 72,763 tests done Sunday, a climbing 4.9% returned positive.

According to the Ministry of Health’s data, 590 patients are hospitalized in serious condition, of whom 144 are on life support.

3, 226 Israelis have died of the virus since the outbreak in February.

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) on Friday night bombed several Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip in response to rockets fired at Israel earlier in the evening.

Gaza-based terrorists fired two rockets at the city of Ashkelon in southern Israel. The Iron Dome Aerial Defense System intercepted both rockets.

Three people were treated for light injuries incurred while running for shelter.

In response, the IAF struck Hamas terror targets including, a rocket manufacturing site, underground infrastructure, and a military post.

“Hamas will bear the consequences for all terror emanating from Gaza,” the IDF stated.

This attack comes after a month of relative quiet in the south. The last rocket attack from Gaza occurred on November 22.

Four Israelis have been discovered to be infected with a mutation of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) that was discovered in the United Kingdom earlier this month, the Ministry of Health announced Wednesday evening.

The Ministry of Health said that in three of the cases the patients are from England and are in quarantine in a state-run hotel. Another patient was discovered in Israel and the case is under investigation.

Israel closed its skies almost completely on Wednesday night following the emergence of a new COVID-19 variant in the United Kingdom that is rapidly spreading around the world.

British scientists have warned that a new variant of the Coronavirus ripping through the country is more infectious and is spreading more rapidly.

Analysis suggested that the new variant could increase the R number, which indicates if an epidemic is growing or shrinking, by 0.4 or more, making it 70% more contagious.

Some Israeli health officials said that the discovery of the UK variant in Israel could explain the recent sharp increase in morbidity in the country.

Israel will enter a third countrywide lockdown on Sunday to stem the spread of the virus.

The 23^rd Knesset dissolved automatically on midnight Tuesday after the deadline for passing the 2020 state budget expired, and Israel will go to the polls for the fourth time in a little less than two years.

By law, the government had until December 23 to pass the state budget, and after failing to do so, it automatically fell.

This is the first time in Israel’s history that such an event occurred.

From its inception, the government has been squabbling over almost every issue and is considered one of the worst in Israel’s history.

During the Knesset’s last session before it dissolved, Speaker of the Knesset Yariv Levin said that “we are embarking on an election campaign that is not simple. From here I call on each and every one of us, and each and every one of Israel’s citizens, to avoid escalating the tensions and to do all that is possible so that the election campaign will be conducted and concluded in an orderly manner and without displays of violence.”

The elections come as the left-center bloc is divided, the Arab-majority Joint List is on the verge of dissolution, and three parties that will combat each other are running on the right, ensuring an acrimonious period in an already toxic environment in Israel.

Polls show that Prime Minister Benjamín Netanyahu’s Likud party is in the lead with about 30 seats while Blue and White, his former chief coalition partner, has lost most of its power and has less than 10 seats.

The polls further show that no leader has a solid majority to establish a coalition, lending further instability to the already volatile political situation.