IDF shell fired at Israeli community

For second time in one month, Israeli mortar shell found near southern community of Nativ Haasara; angry residents say 'our lives are no longer normal'
Shmulik Hadad

The IDF launched an investigation to determine how a shell from a missile battery positioned in the northern Gaza Strip to bombard Qassam launching sites reached the southern community of Nativ Haasara.

Ynet has learnt that this is the second time in less than a month that a shell is found near an Israeli community.

The IDF said in response that the shells were empty in both cases.

The shell was found between two barriers surrounding the community. Gil Tasa, the community’s security officer, said that “a big disaster has been prevented today, because of the firing itself and because a tractor found the shell while digging, which could have exploded and hurt the driver.”

An unexploded 150mm shell fire by the IDF was found not far from Wednesday’s site three weeks ago.

Residents who heard the explosion caused by the diffusion of the shell thought Qassam rocket had fallen.

”We thought it was a Qassam rocket which the army wanted to examine, but only then we realized it was a shell mistakenly fired at us.”

Meanwhile, residents are angry. Tasa said that “it is not just two shells. They fall a few meters from residential houses, they can hurt residents, buildings, or cause chock. We have enough Qassams. Until today no explanation has been given to us about the incident last month and nothing has been told about what happened today."

"Children here are scared of Qassams and army fire. A number of residents have cracks in their homes from the IDF’s fire, which shakes homes and frightens us," he added.

"Our lives are no longer normal. It is a serious mistake by the army, and it is irrelevant that the shell was empty. It could have hurt someone and we have no doubt it could have killed someone,” he charged.

‘Shell apparently fired by mistake'

An IDF officer explained that soon after Qassams were fired at Israel the battery automatically fired at the launching sites. The first shells are usually empty.

“From the current position of the battery, it is impossible for a shell to reach Nativ Haasara. It is a shell fired by mistake, when the battery was hidden,” the officer said.

IDF spokesperson said that “artillery ammunition was used earlier in the area near Nativ Haasara, where contract work is being done along the barrier. The source, place and time when the shell was fired are being investigated in order to draw the appropriate conclusions so that similar instances do not occur in the future.”

A Qassam rocket landed in Nativ Haasara on Wednesday. There were no reports of injuries or damage.

Hanan Greenberg contributed to this report