increase in rocket fire from the Gaza strip into the western Negev.

This past week there was an increase in rocket and mortar shell fire from the Gaza Strip into the western Negev. Four rocket hits were identified and four mortar shells were fired. There were no casualties and no damage was done. A network calling itself the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade's Ayman Judeh Squad claimed responsibility for two of the rockets (Al-Qalaa Communications Network, January 19, 2012).

On the night of January 18 an IDF force operating the southern Gaza Strip apprehended three Palestinians attempting to infiltrate into Israel through the security fence. One of them had a fragmentation grenade in his pocket (IDF Spokesman, January 20, 2012).