All the major terror groups in Gaza issued a joint statement that not only denied any of them shot the rockets this morning at Beersheva and off the coast near Bat Yam, but that denounced whoever shot them.
Even the Hamas Al Qassam Brigades published the statement.
The "Joint Operations Room" that represents all major Gaza terror organizations issued what appears to be an unprecedented statement that says they "reject all irresponsible attempts that try to sabotage the Egyptian (reconciliation) effort, including the rocket fire last night."
I have never seen any terror groups condemn any rocket fire from Gaza, or any terror operation.
The factions said that when they fight Israel, they do it openly and proudly and not "hiding behind any curtain" as the unknown group that shot the rocket has been doing.
This remarkable statement seems to be an attempt to avoid an escalation from Israel.
As far as I can tell, the "Joint Operations Room" includes Hamas, Islamic Jihad, DFLP and PFLP as well as Fatah.
If these groups are telling the truth (which is a big assumption,) then who did it?
Every once in a while we see stories about Salafist and ISIS-associated groups in Gaza who hate everyone else. Fighting flares up between them and Hamas. From all reports they are tiny.
The rockets that were shot this morning were not small homemade Qassams. They has a much longer range. Either they were smuggled in - which is very difficult nowadays - or they were built in Gaza, which would require a significant workshop.
Perhaps someone from one of the major terror groups defected with the rockets.
The thought that there is a wildcard group with that capability in Gaza is unsettling, to say the least.