Gaza rocket hits gas canister in western Negev

Two Qassam rockets fired from the Gaza Strip hit the western Negev Wednesday afternoon, one of them striking a canister of natural gas in the Sha'ar Hanegev region. The canister did not explode, and no injuries were reported in either incident.

Earlier Wednesday, two rockets struck the Eshkol region in the western Negev. The rockets hit open areas, causing no casualties.

The rockets came shortly after Israel Air Force jets bombed two smuggling tunnels in the southern Gaza Strip, after militants in the coastal territory fired four rockets at Israel the previous day.

Israel routinely retaliates to cross-border rocket fire by bombing smuggling tunnels along the Gaza-Egypt border and targeting Hamas weapons stores.

On Tuesday, IAF aircraft hit a Palestinian rocket squad in Gaza just after the militants fired rockets at Israel, the Israel Defense Forces said. Palestinian officials said three people were wounded in the strike.

Tuesday's airstrike took place in northern Gaza, the most frequent launching area for rockets. Militants fired four rockets at Israel on Tuesday, the IDF said. There were no reports of damage or casualties.

Since Israel called off its offensive in Gaza in late January, and the Islamic Hamas rulers of Gaza also declared a cease-fire, more than 100 rockets have been fired at Israel, according to the IDF.