2 Qassam rockets land in south
Rockets launched toward southern town of Sderot, western Negev, fall in open area; no injuries reported
Earlier Thursday, the Red Dawn alert system identified a Qassam launching from the Gaza Strip toward the southern town of Sderot. There were no reports of injuries or damage in this incident as well.
Meanwhile, Southern Command Chief Major-General Yoav Galant referred to the launching of Qassam rockets from the Gaza Strip, saying that “our citizens’ blood will not be forfeited. Our offensive policy will continue, and we'll soon decide how, where and with which scale to respond."
"We have no perfect answer to the firing of Qassam rockets, but our actions are effective,” Galant said, noting the improved precision capability of the Palestinians.
He added that "we will not be dragged into this ping pong game with the Palestinians. There won't be a response to each rocket attack, but we'll operate according to our will."
Galant said Israel will not damage the Palestinian electric system and create power shutdowns in the strip.
"Following our withdrawal from Gaza, the Palestinians were given the opportunity to choose a new path instead of fighting. I hope they will choose the route of hope, instead of that of war and terror," he stated.
Days of rockets
On Wednesday, a Qassam rocket landed in an industrial zone south of Ashkelon. There were no injuries or reported damage. In the past, a Qassam rocket fell in the area, which is thought to be sensitive from a security point of view, due to the presence of many infrastructure installations.
On Tuesday, two Qassam rockets landed in the south of Israel. The first rocket hit a house in the town of Sderot, causing damage to property and killing a cat that was hurt by shrapnel in the backyard.
The rocket landed a few meters away from two kindergartens. Following the fall, the children were rushed into reinforced rooms.
The second rocket landed in an open area at a western Negev community.
The Sderot Municipality launched a strike in response to the rockets, and IDF soldiers fired artillery rounds toward the Qassam launching site in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanun.
Sderot resident Avner Dadon, whose house was hit by the rocket, told Ynet that "the Qassam hit the external wall of the children's room and then flew to the backyard. The window and wall were damaged and the great luck was that the children are at school."
Dadon said that he found out about the rocket from his brother, who had called him to say that a house in their neighborhood was hit.
"I hurried home and was astonished to discover that the rocket hit my house. I'm trembling from the thought of what would have happened if the children were in the room," he said.
"This situation is absolutely terrible. We cannot continue living in such fear 24 hours a day. This town should be closed and we should be evacuated from here until a solution for the Qassams is found. What is happening in this town is inhuman, and what is more annoying is that no one cares about us," he charged.
