Despite Gaza operation, 10 Qassams fired at Sderot

Ten Qassam rockets land in Sderot area, south of Ashkelon since Thursday afternoon; factory in Kibbutz Kfar Aza sustains damage. Region's residents refrain from going outside. Palestinians: Rockets fired in retaliation to IDF operation in Gaza

Shmulik Hadad|Last update: 07.07.06 , 07:38

Despite the IDF operation, which reached 7 kilometers (approximately 4.5 miles) into the Gaza Strip territory, ten Qassam rockets have been fired since Thursday afternoon toward Sderot.

New Target

Another Qassam hits Ashkelon

Shmulik Hadad

For second time in 24 hours, Qassam hits neighborhood in southern city; eight people treated for shock, including four children. Hundreds gather in area. Earlier, mayor meets with city council members to discuss rocket fire

Another Qassam hits Ashkelon

Three rockets landed in the town of Sderot, one hit a factory in Kibbutz Kfar Aza causing damage, and the rest landed in open fields. One of the rockets was found near Gevim Junction. In all cases there were no reports of injuries.

Residents of Sderot estimate that the rockets were fired in retaliation to the IDF operation in Gaza. They also believe that the Palestinians will stop firing rockets into Ashkelon and continue to target Sderot. Although no one was injured, the people of Sdeort prefer to stay indoors.

One Sderot resident said that her son was in the town's center, "but I just called him and he came home quickly. I see that people hurry to get home because of the Qassams"

Qassam rocket outside Sderot house

Sdeort Mayor Eli Moyal said that he has no comment about the rockets targeting his town. "Right now we give a big hug to the IDF and the soldiers and wish them luck in their operation in fighting terror. What we have to say, and we do, will be said when the operation is over."

Retaliating against IDF

Meanwhile, the Salah al-Din Brigades, the military wing of the Popular Resistance Committees, said they fired two Qassam rockets at Israeli communities. In the message, the Divisions said they fired "a rocket of the Nasser 3 type at Sderot and another rocket at a point of convergence of Israeli military forces near the Shuhada cemetery in northern Gaza.

Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' military wing, said it was behind two other Qassam rockets fired at a strategic target in Ashkelon. In statement published they said that "Izz al-Din al-Qassam succeeded to blast a target in occupied Ashkelon using two advanced rockets, in retaliation for the attack in Gaza. The operation begun at 3:05 p.m. against the occupying, exploiting Zionists in our beloved northern Gaza Strip and in retaliation to the Zionist enemy attack on our civilian infrastructures"

Additionally, the military wing claimed responsibility for the firing of two "Yassin" antitank rockets toward armored personnel carriers, and one "Battar" rocket, from the northern Gaza Strip. The Brigades vowed to "show the enemy a lesson it will never forget."