Terrorists fired three rockets toward southern Israel early Monday morning with the Iron Dome missile defense system successfully intercepting two of the projectiles, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said.

In addition, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) announced Monday that the Erez Crossing on the Israel-Gaza border will be closed until further notice following the rocket incendiary balloon attacks from Gaza during the past week.

The decision to close the Erez Crossing came after COGAT made a similar move Sunday to shutter the Gaza fishing zone, which will remain in place for the foreseeable future.

Israel blames Hamas for the rocket attacks and incendiary balloon attacks into Israeli territory.

“The Hamas terrorist organization bears responsibility for everything that happens in and out of the Gaza Strip against the State of Israel, and it will bear the consequences of the violence perpetrated against the citizens of the country,” a COGAT spokesperson said.

Sirens sounded in the Sderot area at 6:20 a.m. after Gaza terrorists launched three rockets, according to the IDF.

IDF tanks targeted Hamas positions in the Gaza Strip overnight Sunday in response to arson balloons and four rocket attacks.

The incidents in southern Israel come at a time of increased tensions in Jerusalem with violent clashes between protesters and police over possible evictions of Palestinians in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood.

Read More: I24