Qassam attack on Sderot

SDEROT - Hamas claimed responsibility for a Qassam rocket attack on the southern town of Sderot Tuesday, calling it a response to confrontations between Israeli police and Palestinians at the al Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount during yesterday's Jerusalem Day celebrations. "Any harm that befalls al Aqsa mosque will mean an open, fierce war in all of our land of Palestine, and by all means," Hamas' military wing said in a statement. At least two Qassam rockets landed in the southern town, causing damage to a residential apartment building. A woman and her two children were taken to Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon and treated for shock. Police were deployed to the area and are searching for additional rockets. The rockets were fired from the town of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip at approximately 7 a.m. In recent days, defense officials have said Palestinian police have not taken sufficient action against terror groups, and warned the IDF would attack the Gaza Strip area should the Palestinian Authority demonstrate weakness in stopping terror activity. "Even now, when there is a certain calm, Israel reserves the right to defend its citizens and it will do that in the future if needed," one official said. 'A proper miracle' One rocket hit the home of the Melech family in Sderot, at a time when all family members were home. “We heard an huge explosion,” one family member said. “The whole house shook and a Qassam rocket hit the second floor, causing a lot of damage. A proper miracle happened here (that no one was killed). We are all in shock, and it will take some time until we are able to get over it. It’s tough to even speak about.” Magen David Adom, city officials and police investigators are presenting on the scene. Mayor: life to continue as normal Sderot Mayor Eli Moyal said schools would operate as normal Tuesday despite the attack. “It is important that daily life here continue as normal, at any price,” he said. Moyal also said he received no early warning of the attack, but said such warnings are now irrelevant. “I don’t think there is any warning (the government can) give us. Here we are, 70 days before disengagement, and we are being attacked - as always - because we are Jews," he said. "This will never change. Last week I was at the Hague for a convention with several Palestinian mayors. The mayor of Jabalia wouldn’t even speak to me." Promises, promises Yonatan Avokasis, who lost a daughter to a Qassam rocket, said one of the rockets fell a few hundred feet from his house. "I was saying my morning prayers,” he told Ynet, “and I head a huge explosion. Everything shook, I dropped everything I was holding, and this made the kids panic even more than usual." “In general, they have been very scared since my daughter Ella died. I have to take them everywhere, even to the bathroom. We (Israel) must wake up and do something. We can’t continue to sit back and wait for miracles. We’ve heard a million promises from (Palestinian leader Mahmoud) Abbas and everyone else, but no one does anything,” he said. Hamas-Fatah tension Earlier, defense officials estimated the attack was carried out by Hamas, and categorized the event as “very serious.” They pointed out that, whereas attacks on Sderot are often in response to Israel’s offensive maneuvers, this attack was unprovoked. Officials also stressed the attack was because of Hamas tensions with Abbas’ ruling Fatah party. Hamas has been critical of Abbas’ decision to put off July 17 regional elections until November. Hamas is expected to do strongly at the polls, and has accused Abbas of playing for time to try and thwart a strong Hamas showing. Abbas is expected to visit Gaza Tuesday, and the attack is also considered a warning in advance of the visit. The defense establishment is also concerned that Hamas considers attacks on Israel as a legitimate method of protest against Abbas.

Qassam attack on Sderot

At least two rockets hit southern town; damage caused to residential building, woman and two children treated for shock