(TPS) Operators of the Iron Dome missile defense system did not err Sunday night when they fired at machine gun fire emanating from the Gaza Strip, an IDF official said. Rather, the army said it was better to be safe than sorry when monitoring a live-fire exercise conducted by the Hamas military wing.

“There was no human error and no technical mishap,” said Brig. Gen. Tzvika Haimovitch, commander of the IDF air defense apparatus. “The system was and is over-sensitive, in concert with the situation analysis that we do from time to time… the way we treat Gaza is not exactly like the way we treat the northern theater. Defending Israeli civilians takes precedence any time we face a dilemma: It is standard procedure not to take risks if there is even the smallest risk of a civilian or civilian property being harmed.”

“Civilians could have gotten hurt last night. None did,” he said. “We will continue to reduce the threats (to Israeli civilians) despite the high costs.”