Silence of holiday morning disrupted by seven rockets fired from Gaza; one rocket lands in residential area, RPG rocket fired at IDF soldiers.
The Israel Air Force struck three terror targets in the Gaza Strip on Monday afternoon, in response to rocket fire at southern Israel earlier Monday.
(Photo: AFP)
The IDF Spokesman’s Office said in a statement that “IAF aircraft attacked two terror targets in the south of the Gaza Strip and an additional target in the center of the Strip. Direct hits were confired, and all aircrafts returned safely to their bases.”
Palestinian reports, however, claimed four targets were. According to a Hamas statement, targets included a security facility in the central Gaza Strip, near the Nuseirat refugee camp, another strike hit a livestock farm nearby and a third one hit an open area in Deir al-Balah. A fourth target was a Hamas military post near Khan Yunis in the south of the Strip.
A Palestinian security officer was injured in the strike on the security facility, while two were lightly injured in the strike on the Hamas military post.
“Israeli civilians celebrating the Passover Holiday woke up this morning to the sound of Code-Red alarms and rockets. It is our obligation to seek out and target those who wish to attack our civilians and soldiers and to eliminate their capabilities. Hamas rocket terrorism is an intolerable reality Israelis should not have to accept,” IDF Spokesman Peter Lerner said Monday.
IAF helicopters also reportedly fired warning shots towards areas in the northern Gaza Strip from where rockets were suspected to have been launched.
100 rockets in 2014
The silence of the Passover holiday was disrupted Monday morning when seven rockets fired from the Gaza Strip exploded Sderot, Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council and the Eshkol Regional Council.
One of the rockets fired at the Israeli south fell on a road in a residential area of Sderot near a market store and a synagogue, causing minor damage to the road and to nearby stores but no injuries. Security forces were still looking for a second rocket that fell in an open field.
Four others fell in open fields in the Sha’ar HaNegev and Eshkol regional councils, and caused no damage or injuries.
Residents in the area reported on sounds of explosion and the Code Red siren was heard.
So far, a total of 100 rockets were fired from Gaza at southern Israel since the beginning of 2014, the IDF said.
In a separate incident that happened Monday at around 7 am, an RPG rocket was fired by a terrorist cell in the Gaza Strip at an IDF force making a routine patrol in armored vehicles along the Israeli side of the Gaza border fence at the south of the Strip. None of the soldiers were hurt and no damage was caused.
This was the first RPG rocket fired at IDF soldiers since Operation Pillar of Defense in November 2012.
The IDF was looking into the possible connection between the two incidents, and said that it considers any attempt to harm the citizens of Israel and its security forces to be serious, and that it viewed Hamas as responsible for the rocket fire.
Rockets won’t ruin Mimouna celebrations
The rocket fire comes as Sderot prepares to celebrate the Mimouna, a traditional Moroccan Jewish celebration held the day after Passover to mark the start of spring and the return to eating chametz. The Mimouna celebrations in Sderot are considered one of the biggest events in the country, since many of the city’s residents are Moroccan Jews.
Silvia Gabay will host the biggest Mimouna in Sderot on Monday evening, where hundreds of people were expected to attend.
Her brother, Yuval Gabay, said: “We’ve been hearing loud explosions since this morning and now – a rocket fell inside the city. I hope the army works to restore the calm because we have no intentions of cancelling the Mimouna celebrations. Even if more rockets fall, we’ll have the celebrations as planned. We’ve had Mimouna celebrations under the threat of rockets before, and it will not ruin our party.”
A resident of the neighborhood where the rocket fell said: “The entire street was closed by police forces looking for the rocket. Now I’m at the secure space with the children and we’re hearing gunfire from the army. I don’t know where this is suddenly coming from. We’ve had calm in the past few days, but as of this morning we find ourselves going in and out of the secure space every few minutes.”
Last week, a rocket was fired at the Hof Ashkelon Regional Council during the holiday, but landed in Palestinian area inside the Gaza Strip. The week before, a mortar shell exploded in the Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council. No one was hurt.
Elior Levy contributed to this report.
This is an ongoing story and will be updated continuously.
What happened to the Operation Pillar of Defense peace treaty.?
Stop signing these stupid peace treaties. Exterminate the vermin once and for all.
When you fight a war you’ve got to win it.
Stupid Israeli government.
the phoenix Said:
I have not seen it. I would like to see.
@ AbbaGuutuu:
@ M Devolin:
Did you see the movie “the amazing mr rippley” with Matt Damon?
If you saw it, you will understand in a flash the scenario here…
the phoenix Said:
When he came to visit the White House (at least twice) he was mistreated. That was an open secret. Since you read this website regularly, I hope you are fully aware of several threats made in the open by secretary Kerry against Israel.
if you take international pressures because of the Arab lobbies in the UN and various countries into account, what the leadership of Israel faces is enormous problems. As the person who had worked in leadership position, I know there are a lot of stuff that BB cannot share with the public. It is easy to criticize him for any thing that went/goes wrong. Governance is extremely different from running for an elected office or simply blaming some one without having sufficient info from within a government. I donot pretend to know about the inner workings of the Israeli government. From common sense and what you hear and read, it is easy to see the pressures from within and out. BB is not a wimp as some may try to portray him.
He is a strong leader that Israel enemies do not want to see in power. Mark my words if what I have said may not be known by all sooner or later.
@ AbbaGuutuu:
I would not want to assume anything.
What is YOUR understanding?
the phoenix Said:
I understand the international pressure and prejudices against Israeli leadership.
I know Israel can wipe out its enemies if it decides to do so.
Although its cautious moves are essential for it to thrive in the midst of her enemies, since no other country should/could tolerate such recurring evil, Israel should give an ultimatum to Hamas and its supporters not to fire any more rockets.
If they keep attacking as usual, an unusual and decisive actions should be taken to give them a life time lesson.
Let Israel’s friends and enemies know that such actions won’t be tolerated at all!!!!!!
As I no longer watch or read “news” provided by the msm, I can not say this factually, but I would bet ANYTHING that THIS, did not make it to the front page nor to the headline news….
Ho, hum….
Rockets fired at Jews…. BFD!!!! Let’s keep looking for the Easter bunny….
–
This vile antisemitic patronizing attitude, I can understand. I really can.
(Are you listening, american? 🙂 )
But, the lack of RESOLVE from the Israeli ‘leadership’… Is inexcusable!
To allow Jewish citizens to be terrorized FOR YEARS, by these musloids is inexcusable.
THIS, will not only not bring any “peace”, but it will only prolong this miserable status quo (for the residents of sderot ashkelon, Ashdod etc)
Can anybody explain to this SICK leadership what happened in Dresden for example????
Just sayin’…
We expect this. They always want to disrupt our holidays. Even in Canada I received an alert for all Jews to exercise caution and beef up security.