Analysis: Rocket fire at Jerusalem sends a strong message to Netanyahu

As Israeli hopes for a ceasefire seemed high on Friday morning, Palestinian rockets fired from Gaza at settlements in occupied East Jerusalem came as a major shock. 

According to Mukhaimar Abu Sa’da, a political analyst and professor at Gaza's Al-Azhar University, the salvo carried a strong message.

“Launching rockets towards Jerusalem is a way to pressure the Israeli occupation to agree on the Islamic Jihad’s terms for the ceasefire, including to stop the killing of civilians,” Abu Sa’da told Middle East Eye.

For Israelis, targeting Jerusalem is seen as a "red line", even more so than hitting Tel Aviv, Abu Sa’da said. 

“The message is that the [Islamic Jihad] are ready to launch more long-range rockets if [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu doesn’t agree to end the policy of assassinations,” he added. 

Palestinian groups have maintained that the fighting will continue until Israel commits to stop the targeted killing of military leaders and civilians.