Safed attacked: We're not used to be in firing line

VIDEO - Katyusha fire continues also in the afternoon. Katyusha fire reached the city of Safed on Thursday. For 15 minutes, from 2.30 pm, five neighborhoods in city were attacked simultaneously. About 30 people were injured and heavy damage was caused. Magen David Adom ambulances arrived to the scene of hit areas within minutes. Safed attacked (Photo: Doron Golan) A short while after that Katyushas fell in Majdel Qrum, where 20 people were injured – and also in Ghajar and Kfar Yuval. Since the morning hours, 85 Katyushas fell on northern communities, and 90 people were injured. Eli Peretz, the head of Magen David Adom in the north, told Ynet that ambulances have been put on standby in Safed. Ambulances evacuated the injured, most of whom suffered shrapnel wounds while others from shock. The Ziv hospital in Safed has been placed on high alert since Wednesday. Majdel Krum resident holding Katiusha (Photo: Hagai Aharon) The head of the emergency room, Hussein Ammar, said: "Among the injured there is person who was critically injured. He suffered shrapnel wounds, and wounds to the head, stomach, neck and internal organs and he was taken to the operation theater. A woman was moderately injured in the face and the rest were injured from shrapnel…allover their bodies." One after the other, the ambulances arrived to hospitals – in a city that hasn't known a similar for years. David Ben-Shimon was near the Tslil center when a Katyusha fell near him. "I was with a group of tourists from the United States when suddenly I heard an explosion near the restaurant where we were. Everyone lay on the floor, and I told them it is a Katyusha that had fallen and that they will be transferred to a secure place. As a Safed resident I was also shocked. For years the city hasn't seen a situation where rockets are fired in all directions nonstop." Among the injured in Safed was Kobi Levinger, who was in the city's library when rockets fell in the city. "I head one or three explosions and then there was a shock and the cement ceiling started to crumble. I ran outside and I noticed another two people injured from broken glass. It was scary. Unlike communities along the border, we are not used to a situation of this kind." Hospitals are in constant contact with the IDF Northern Command, and managers have been informed that the high alert status will remain in place for a number of days. A Katyusha also fell in Hatsor Haglilit, which is near Safed. Three people were treated for shock. Residents of Safed, Rosh Pina and Hatsor Haglilit were asked to seek shelter in fortified rooms and underground shelters. Majdel Karum hit Around 3 pm four rockets landed in Majdel Krum west of Carmiel. About 20 people were injured in the attacks. One person was moderately wounded while the others suffered light wounds. The injured were treated in the Western Galilee Hospital in Nahariya. The hospital said that seven people were injured by shrapnel while 12 were treated for shock. More people are expected to come to the hospital complaining of pain caused by injures sustained while escaping. Thousands of Majdel Krum residents gathered around attack scenes. Policemen had to disperse the curious crowds to inspect the rockets. One witness said he was in his office when a rocket fell few kilometers away. He said his office was damaged by shrapnel. Children gathered pieces of the rockets fired from Lebanon, but Fatma Khatib held her baby daughter suffering from pain in her legs which were injured when she was knocked down to the floor from the impact of the explosion. She said she was in the kitchen when the rocket fell, and many utensils fell on her. "I left the house shocked. All the glass was broken and people were shocked. I hope it will end in peace," she said. There are no underground or fortified shelters in Muslim Majdel Krum, which lies 20 kilometers from the border. "We are all Israeli citizens. If there was a catastrophe here God forbid, all of us would have been angry at Hizbullah," a resident said. Ahiya Raved contributed to this report

Safed attacked: We're not used to be in firing line

(VIDEO) 30 people injured after Katyusha barrage falls on northern city of Safed – one injured said to be in serious condition; Majdel Krum hit by 4 rockets – 20 people injured – one moderately