A massive barrage of rockets hit cental and southern Israel on Thursday afternoon shortly after Hamas said it had "more to offer" in the current round of cross border fighting.
The latest round of cross-border fighting between Israel and the terror groups in Gaza entered its third day, with new barrages of rockets hitting Israeli cities. The IDF responded by targeting cells preparing to launch rockets and anti-tank missiles as well as terror infrastructure in the enclave.
Shortly after 2:30pm, rocket alert sirens blared in many central cities, including Tel Aviv, Holon and Bat Yam, where a rocket fell into the sea near the coast. Sirens also sounded in Be'er Sheva and Ashdod.
Magen David Adom said a child was moderately wounded while running for bomb shelter in central Israel. Six other people were lightly hurt across the country in the latest barrage.
The military said at least ten rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome in central Israel alone. Hamas said they fired over 100 rockets in the bombardment.
Rocket falls into the seat in Bat Yam
(צילום: דריה מרן )
Hamas also said it rocketed Ramon Airport near the southernmost resort city of Eilat, but there were no immediate reports of sirens going off nor an impact in the area. Officials at the airport said there was no sirens or landing of the rockets nearby.
Israel has redirected some flights to Ramon Airport from its main international hub, Ben-Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, due to the security situation.
The terrorists did, however, fire rockets toward Israel's southernmost city of Eilat. A rocket exploded in an open area in the western part of the Hevel Eilot Regional Council, some 220 km from Gaza. It fell far from the regional council and therefore no rocket alert siren was activated.
A bus carrying soldier stops on the side of the road during rocket attack in Ashdod
The rocket salvo came shortly after the spokesperson for the terror group's military wing said Hamas' actions are aimed at protecting Jerusalem and labeled the current round of fighting as "Operation Al-Quds Sword".
"Jerusalem is at the center of this conflict. We are waging a campaign in defense of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the residents of the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood. We have no purpose without the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem," he said.
He also urged Palestinians in the West Bank and Arab Israelis in Israel to rise up. "All the blessings to our people who revolt in Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa, in Israeli territory and in the West Bank. I call on you to go out and revolt everywhere and we will support you and have your back."
He added the terror group isn't fazed by Israel's policy of targeted killings. On Wednesday, 16 high-ranking members of the Hamas terror group, including a senior commander and weapons developers, had been killed in Israeli targeted attacks on Gaza City and Khan Yunis, according to Israeli security officials.
"Firing at Tel Aviv, Dimona and Jerusalem is easier for us than drinking water, we have more surprises that will make our people happy," the spokesman said. "Your technology and your assassinations do not frighten us. There are no red lines in our response. We only have a sword and fire."