Avigdor Liberman
Avigdor LibermanYonatan Sindel/Flash 90

Politicians lost no time in responding to the rocket fire from Gaza on Tuesday night, in which at least one rocket struck in the vicinity of the southern city of Ashdod.

"It's too bad that Hamas is trying again to deteriorate the security reality in the south," said Culture and Sports Minister Miri Regev (Likud).

She added, "the state of Israel needs to respond to every (rocket) fire towards citizens of Israel," indicating the IDF deterrent response likely to follow.

None were wounded in the rocket attack.

Security sources estimate that the attack likely was not launched by Hamas but rather from other terrorist sources in Gaza, with Islamic Jihad fingered in some reports.

Yisrael Beytenu chairperson Avigdor Liberman, who recently chose not to join the coalition despite being offered to continue as foreign minister, used the rocket fire as an opportunity to criticize the newly formed government.

"A government that isn't willing to write in its fundamental positions that it intends to overthrow the Hamas regime in Gaza is a government that broadcasts weakness," said Liberman.

Liberman had demanded toppling Hamas as a condition to joining the coalition, a condition that was rejected and partially led to his decision not to join.

He added, "if it (the government) won't recover its composure, it would be better for it to end its term right now, immediately after it began, for the sake of the security of Israeli citizens and for the strength of the state of Israel."

MK Omer Bar-Lev of the leftist Labor party also criticized the government in light of the rocket attack.

"I call on the prime minister to respond sharply and powerfully to Hamas which holds the full responsibility for all types of fire or terrorist activity emanating from the Gaza Strip," said Bar-Lev.

"We are given yet another sign this evening that the lack of a strong position by (Prime Minister Binyamin) Netanyahu and (Defense Minister Moshe) Ya'alon, together with the lack of the clear peace initiative relying on the opportunity created after Protective Edge, will bring us soon to another round (of fighting) in the south of the country."

The Labor MK said," we must present Hamas with our price tag," apparently calling for a diplomatic process of peace talks with the terrorist organization.