Woman moderately injured by Qassam in Negev
Factory worker in industrial area of Shaar Hanegev moderately injured when Qassam rocket lands in factory yard. Red Dawn alert system warns over and over of incoming rockets, but only one rocket lands in area, apparently frenzy-causing mishap in system
According to the Sderot fire chief, David Sheetrit, the rocket fell in the factory yard, very close to the building. "We are lucky the rocket hit the asphalt in the factory yard, so no damage was caused. If, heaven forbid, the rocket would have fallen 30 meters from there, it would have hit the factory and its hundreds of workers. Then things would have looked different."
This past weekend a Qassam rocket was also shot at the area, landing next to a kindergarten in Zikim, south of Ashkelon, while an extra-curricular Frisbee class was being held. Two children were lightly wounded and another eight people went into shock. In addition, damage was caused to the kindergarten building. Five children injured by the rocket were brought to Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon, of whom two were injured by shrapnel, two from shock, and one with wringing in the ears.
Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad, took responsibility for the rocket shooting that hit Kibbutz Zikim that injured two children. In the organization's announcement it was declared that "the shooting will continue in response to IDF crimes against the Palestinians." The IDF, on the other hand, continued its artillery shooting on northern Gaza.
A day prior to this, five Qassam rockets were shot at Sderot and the Regional Council of Shaar Hanegev. No one was hurt. However, many residents of the south feel that since the inception of the operations in the north, the southern front and the unending rain of Qassam rockets have been all but forgotten. Most of the activists in the area have prefered to soften their criticism due to events in the north, but it seems that little by little they too are growing tired of the situation. One rocket landed in an open area next to the high school in the city, while a tractor driver was working there. Saturday, numerous rockets were shot at Sderot, Netiv Haasara, and southern Ashkelon.
Hunger strikers, who established a protest encampment in front of the minister of defense's house, gathered to discuss their options for action on the issue. In contrast, a protest encampment, headed by Arye Cohen and his friends, is operating in front of Sderot City Hall. This week there was even a wedding of a couple, who identify with the common struggle, in one of the encampment's tents.
