A ceasefire aimed at bringing an end to the latest escalation in Gaza went into effect at 2:00 a.m. on Friday morning.
At 12:30 a.m., an hour and a half before the ceasefire began, terrorists fired a barrage of rockets at communities located near the Gaza border.
One rocket directly hit a building in the Eshkol Regional Council, injuring a 53-year-old man who was evacuated by Magen David Adom paramedics to hospital with light injuries.
Shortly after 1:30 a.m., an additional barrage was fired towards communities located along the Gaza border. No physical injuries were reported in this barrage.
Earlier, the Cabinet approved that Israel would unilaterally declare the end of the military operation in Gaza.
At the same time, an official in the Hamas terrorist organization noted that the ceasefire with Israel had been approved and would begin at 2:00 a.m. Friday morning.
Hamas then threatened that if the Israeli air strikes on Gaza continue until the ceasefire takes effect, missiles will be fired "from Haifa to Ramon."
Despite the ceasefire, the Home Front Command issued updated guidelines instructing residents of communities located up to seven kilometers from the Gaza Strip border to stay in their homes and in close proximity to a shelter until further notice.
All movement and activity in open spaces in the area is prohibited.