On Sunday morning, IDF spokesman Brigadier-General Ran Kochav issued a statement regarding rocket fire aimed at Israel over the weekend.
"We regard the rocket fire directed at Ashkelon and the Gaza perimeter area with the utmost gravity," Kochav said in an interview with Radio 103FM. "Following the fire, we responded with an extremely significant attack on Shabbat itself, striking an underground site that was being used for the manufacture of rockets. From time to time, we learn of various sites used by Hamas for training or assembling weapons, and we eliminate their capabilities in such sites, striking when the opportunity presents itself -- and this was such an opportunity," Kochav added.
"We have excellent intelligence-gathering capabilities that take many forms, and it is very unusual that they succeed in surprising us, as was the case this time as well. We were waiting for the opportunity and attacked in a very significant hit. We have a broad range of considerations regarding when and how and why to attack, at what stage of production to halt terrorist activity and so forth, but there is no doubt that yesterday's attack confounded Hamas' efforts to enhance its operational capacity. We will continue with this trend that began last year during Operation Guardian of the Walls, an operation that was extremely successful and which has deterred Hamas.
"If you want the truth, then I can tell you that we know that Hamas was not directly behind the rocket fire," Kochav added. "They even released a statement to that effect. They are trying to keep the peace and refrain from firing, and they know why. Our assessment is that other terrorist entities were responsible for the latest rocket fire, but it really doesn't make any difference. From our point of view, Hamas is responsible for everything that happens in the Strip, and every time someone shoots rockets out of there, we will respond with a significant attack, as we did yesterday."