Israel Strikes Gaza after being hit by 7 Gaza rockets

 

IDF retaliates to Gaza’s firing salvo of seven rockets into southern Israel.

No injuries reported on the Israeli side.

 

Six rockets fired from the Gaza Strip exploded in southern Israel on Monday morning. One of the missiles hit a street in the city of Sderot, causing damage but no injuries.

The Israel Air Force  responded by attacking two targets in the southern Gaza Strip and other targets in the center. Direct strikes on the targets were reported and all aircraft returned safely to base, according to the Israel Defense Forces spokesman.

Gaza’s Ministry of Interior announced that two Palestinian security officers were injured in an airstrike on the al-Nuseirat refugee camp. Other strikes reportedly hit a nearby livestock farm, causing material damage but no injuries, an open area in Deir al-Balah and a target in Khan Yunis, the ministry said.

Just before 8 A.M., four rockets were fired at Sha’ar Hanegev regional Council, and landed in open areas, causing no damage or injuries. Residents, who were alerted by rocket sirens, reported hearing loud blasts. Security forces are combing the area, and three of the impact sites have been located thus far.

The site of the rocket's impact in Sderot. April 21, 2014.

The site of the rocket’s impact in Sderot. April 21, 2014.- Photo: Eliyahu Hershkowitz

Shortly after the initial salvo, three more rockets were fired from Gaza; one hit a street in Sderot, another landed in an open area in the city’s vicinity and the third landed in an open area in nearby Eshkol Regional Council.

Limor Abergil, a resident of Sderot, described the experience. “I heard the first alarm and ran to wake my two kids. One of them is only two-years-old. Within ten seconds, I was running with them towards the stairwell, while outside one could already hear the blasts. My husband is working, so I was alone with them. It’s been very hard to calm down.”

Ilan Assayag

The rocket that landed in Sderot. April 21, 2014 – Photo: Ilan Assayag

A massive blast rocked the entire area after a second alarm went off, she said. “It’s been a long time since we last heard such a terrifying noise. Relatives are supposed to come over this evening for the Mimuna celebrations, and some might think twice.”

The IDF spokesman said that Israel regarded Hamas as being responsible for the rocket attacks.

Two week’s calm shattered

On April 4, IDF jets struck Gaza targets shortly after a salvo of rockets was fired from Gaza into Israeli territory. The missiles landed in in open areas in the Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council and caused no injuries.

Palestinians reported two were wounded by the Israeli air strike: a 30-year-old man and a one-year-old child.

In March, several rounds of missiles were fired at Sderot, Netivot, and several of the nearby regional councils. Around 70 missiles were fired, out of which five landed in populated areas – in Sderot and in Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council. No injuries were caused, but several structures were lightly damaged. That incident, too, led to the IDF carrying out strikes within the Strip; Three Palestinians were killed when Israel Air Force jets struck Islamic Jihad militants in the Strip’s south.

 

View original HAARETZ publication at: http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.586519