It was just after midnight when the sirens howled for the first time in a little over a month in the Israeli communities that border the Gaza Strip. A short time later, residents reported an explosion. The Iron Dome had successfully intercepted a rocket shot fired at them by Gaza’s terrorist overlords.

No one was injured in the incident, nor was there any direct damage. In response to the failed attack, the Israel Air Force bombed Hamas infrastructure in the coastal enclave.

Shortly before the rocket attack, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) announced that it was imposing a naval blockade on the Gaza Strip, citing a renewal of low-intensity cross-border terrorism, such as sporadic rocket fire and the launching of flaming kites and bomb-laden balloons. Those kites and balloons sparked 20 wildfires in southern Israel over the past week alone.

One of the fires destroyed over 10 acres of wheat fields near Kibbutz Nachal Oz.

After a month of relative calm in the south, the situation now seems to be escalating again. This is expected to continue as Israel nears its second national election this year in September. Hamas and its terrorist allies believe that by attacking Israel they can weaken Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s chances of reelection.