Lieberman: Flatten homes of Hamas leaders
During tour held by Israel Our Home party in Sderot, Party Chairman Avigdor Lieberman says: "As Qassams are fired on defense minister's home, our target should be to strike homes of Hamas leaders'. Meanwhile, 6 Qassams hit town and surrounding area overnight
Israel Our Home faction leaders held a special session Friday in the town of Sderot, and visited the tent set up by hunger strikers opposite the home of Amir Peretz.
"Hamas leaders should leave their homes in Gaza and the ground must be flattened. The next target for the Israeli government must be the homes of Hamas leaders," said Party Chairman Avigdor Lieberman.
Members of the faction held meetings in the Sderot municipality building, and met with Eli Moyal and his deputy. Lieberman told hunger protestors: "In order to stop the Qassams a number of operations must be carried out. Just as Qassams are fired on the home of Defense Minister Amir Peretz, our target must be the homes of Hamas heads. They must be flattened."
Sderot residents who are hunger striking meanwhile decided to continue fasting through the Sabbath, despite calls to call of the strike.
“We are still waiting for the defense minister to tell the army to retaliate for the Qassam fire and prevent it, because unfortunately the firing has continued despite his declarations,” one of the strikers said.
Members of the faction heard the hunger strikers and offered their support. Lieberman asked Knesset Member Dalia Itzik to hold a full meeting in Sderot in a letter.
Former defense minister and Sderot resident Itzik Mordechai also arrived at the protest tent, where he told locals that he came to support them. "I am sure it will be alright in the future," he said, refusing to give more details.
Six more rocket attacks
Meanwhile, six Qassam rockets were fired overnight Thursday from the northern Gaza Strip towards Israel. Five of the rockets landed in the western Negev with no casualties in the attacks. One of them landed in Palestinian territory.
During the night, IDF forces managed to thwart the launch of an additional rocket when they identified a terror cell preparing to launch a rocket in the southern Strip, and opened fire on them. The cell members fled the scene and the attack was prevented.
Hunger strike enters day 6
Meanwhile, Sderot residents on a hunger strike, demanding an end to the rocket fire that has been disrupting and threatening their lives for a long time now, have entered the sixth day of their strike. Various Knesset members, youths and activists interested in expressing their support for the strikers are expected to visit Sderot Friday.
Israel’s Chief Rabbi Yonah Metzger visited the town Thursday and attempted to convince them to call off their hunger strike, at least during the Sabbath. In the protestors’ tent, there were murmurs suggesting they might in fact pause their strike Saturday.
On Thursday seven rockets were fired at the western Negev, one of which landed close to the home of Defense Minister Amir Peretz, while National Union and National Religious Party members were visiting the protestors’ tent.
Hanan Greenberg contributed to the report
