Rocket in Ashkelon (Archive photo)
צילום: איי פי
Qassam with longest range ever fired
Palestinians improve range of Qassam rockets, concerns grow they may reach Lachish area
Palestinians are continuing to improve the range of Qassam rockets: On Tuesday Palestinians succeed to launch a rocket at the Kibbutz Brur Hayil area, north of Sderot. A second rocket landed in the area of Ashkelon's national park.
The Qassam strike on Brur Hayil, not far from the ranch containing the home of former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, again raised concerns that the terrorists will eventually reach communities in the Lachish region.
The rocket landed very near the kibbutz, and a fire broke out after the attack. Firefighters and Jewish National Fund staff quelled the blaze.
Although Ashkelon is further from Gaza than Brur Hayil, the rockets on Sderot are fired from a different launch zone.
A second rocket has landed at Ashkelon's National Park, in the center of the park near a restaurant. The rocket pierced deep into the ground and sappers are currently attempting to bring the rocket up, and are likely to use a tractor.
IDF sources said the Qassam rocket fired at Ashkelon was fired from the area which was formerly the Erez industrial zone.
It is still unclear what type of rocket was fired.
It was also said that the firing of the rocket took place during the peak of artillery fire from the sea and land at northern and southern Gaza.
'We knew one day a rocket would fall here'
A number of people were in the park not far from where the rocket landed.
"I stood here someone and I was washing the vehicle, and suddenly we heard a strong explosion and a whistle, I didn't understand what it was, and I saw something land. We lay down in panic on the ground, I called the police, and then I understood that it was a Qassam," a witness said.
In Kibbutz Brur Hayil, made up of emigrants from Brazil, members will now adjust to the new reality. "We knew one day a rocket would fall here, they after all fall all the time in kibbutzim near us in the Shaar Hanegev local council, and we had a feeling one day it would fall here," said Oren, one of the local residents.
The kibbutz, thought to be safe and outside of the range of rockets, hosted Sderot residents during the World Cup to watch the matches.
Hanan Greenberg contributed to this report
