The Israeli Air Force (IAF) on Saturday night numbed Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip in response to a rocket attack on the city of Ashkelon earlier in the evening.

Gaza-based terrorists launched a rocket at the city of Ashkelon, which exploded in an industrial zone, causing damage to a structure.

A pregnant woman was evacuated to the Barzilai Medical Center after being injured while running to the safe room when the rocket siren went off in Ashkelon. She is under observation and is in good condition.

In response, IAF fighter jets and helicopters attacked 12 Hamas terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip, including two sites for the production of rockets, underground infrastructure and a military training complex of the Hamas naval force.

The IDF “takes all terrorist activity against Israel very seriously and is prepared and ready to act as resolutely as necessary, against attempts to harm Israeli citizens and their sovereignty,” it stated.

“The terrorist organization Hamas bears responsibility for what is happening in and out of the Gaza Strip, and will bear the consequences of terrorist acts against Israeli citizens,” the IDF added.

Police sappers arrived at the site of the rocket explosion on Sunday morning to ensure the rocket remains posed no further threat.

The IDF is investigating why the Iron Dome defense system did not intercept the rocket.

The last rocket attack on Israel from Gazza occurred a week ago.

Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan congratulated Israeli basketball player Deni Avdija on being selected in ninth place by the Washington Wizards in the NBA Draft.

“You are a real cannon and an Israeli pride. From today, you are also our ambassador and we are all fans of Washington,” he said Thursday.

Avdija, 19, said at a news conference after his election that “being elected number nine is an honor. I’m super excited. I will continue to be with my feet on the ground. The group that chose me and believed in me – I will give everything for it. Wherever I go I try to be the best I can be. I was glad to see my dad’s excitement. I believe in my abilities to succeed in the NBA.”

Deni Avdija met with the media after being drafted No. 9!#WizDraft | @GEICO pic.twitter.com/DpFXJwuqCS

— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) November 19, 2020

“Israel is a small country, to represent the country and be in the highest spot is amazing,” the Israeli ball player told ESPN. “I’m super excited to take my game to the next level.”

As a player selected in 9th place, Avdija will pocket $3.7 million in the first season, $3.9 million in the second season and about $4.1 million in the third season.

The Boston Celtics selected Israeli Guard Yam Madar 47^th in the draft.

Minister of Culture and Sports Hili Tropper Conveyed his “warm congratulations” to Avdija and Madar “on their impressive achievement.”

“Dear Deni and Yam, I wish you great success, you are convincing proof that perseverance and talent – lead to excellence. Proud of you! I really hope you meet on the floor of the best league in the world in the coming season,” he said.

Omri Casspi, the first Israeli player in the NBA. was selected 23^rd overall in the 2009 NBA draft.

Israel participated on Tuesday in the first annual Ministers’ Forum of the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance (IRFBA) with 31 other member states to discuss ways to promote and protect freedom of religion or belief around the world.

Senior Deputy Director-General of Media and Public Affairs of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Noam Katz, headed the Israeli Delegation.

In his statement, Katz addressed the “despicable resurgence of anti-Semitism” across the world and the plight of Christian communities in the Middle East. Christian communities across the region have been in retreat in recent years due to Islamic persecution.

He also referred to the recent Abraham Accords signed between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain as “a prime example of faith-based diplomacy.”

The Alliance members signed a declaration entitled “A Shared Vision for Advancing Freedom of Religion or Belief for All,” in which they recommitted to upholding the principles of religious freedom and to advocate and promote these freedoms.

The IRFBA was launched in February 2020 by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo with the goal of forming a global alliance that would work together in promoting freedom of religion and worship, prevent the persecution of religious minorities, and preserve holy religious and historical sites around the world.

The IRFBA seeks to continue its efforts to advance freedom of religion or belief around the world.

​Pompeo stated that he was honored to join his counterparts for talks to advance religious freedom.

“Freedom of religion or belief is a cherished American value and universal human right. The US stands with its Alliance partners in taking concrete actions to defend believers and non-believers alike,” he said.

There has been a 17% increase in the number of Jews visiting the Temple Mount in comparison to the same time period last year, activities are reporting.

Some 405 Jews visited the Temple Mount last week, despite the Coronavirus limitations, compared to 347 Jews who visited the Temple Mount during the same time period last year.

The activists also said that the authorities on site have expanded Jews’ visiting time at the holy site to two and a half hours, and that groups have easier access to the site.

For the first time, a group of pro-Israel non-Jews ascended to the Temple Mount and took a special tour of the site.

Some reports say that the police have been working to remove Muslim instigators from the site, and have been working to ban soccer games played by Muslim children at the holiest site to Judaism.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday instructed the head of the National Security Council Meir Ben-Shabbat and the professional officials to formulate additional proposals for restrictions “so that Israel will be able to continue opening the economy and education in a responsible manner.”

After hours of deliberations, the Corona Cabinet concluded its lengthy seven-hour meeting with no decisions. It appears Netanyahu is pushing for a tradeoff – more restrictions in some areas with an easing of the restrictions in others.

Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz will hold a consultation Monday and submit a draft decision to the Corona Cabinet.

Netanyahu said that decisions “had to be made in a considered and responsible way.”

He stated during the meeting he “wants to make certain that we will continue to make the right decisions, with as broad agreement as possible, in order to allow us to open up the economy and education without endangering the lives and health of the citizens of Israel.”

“We have lowered morbidity to one of the lowest rates in the west, and I do not intend to give this up with a wave of the hand,” he asserted.

Israel entered a full lockdown in mid-September and has not fully emerged since.

The Ministry of Health updated Monday that it recorded 613 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours.

Of the 23,553 tests done Sunday, 2.7% returned positive, an increase since last week.

According to the data, 294 patients are hospitalized in serious condition, of whom 130 are on life support.

2,732 Israelis have died of the virus since the outbreak in February.