Israel is not interested in a new escalation in the Gaza Strip, Israeli Occupation Forces spokesperson Brigadier Yoav Mordechai has claimed. Mordechai told Voice of Israel radio station: “The missile which hit Gaza this morning was launched toward a specified target.” The raid targeted a Palestinian car carrying a number of members of a Palestinian group heading towards east Rafah. Meanwhile, the Israeli army radio claimed that Palestinian factions continue to smuggle weapons into the Gaza Strip despite Egyptian security operations in Sinai. Israel is always in communication with Cairo on the subject of arms smuggling into Gaza through the tunnels, but they do not see tangible results on the ground so far, calling for more Egyptian efforts, military sources told the station. The sources warned against escalation and the terrorization of the population in southern towns. This will require Israel’s decisive response in any future rounds to restore the situation back to normal, they said reiterating that Hamas bears responsibility for the current state in the sector.