'Total destruction.' Qassam rocket (archive photo)
Photo: Amir Cohen
3 lightly hurt in Negev Qassam attacks
Rocket fired from north Gaza lands near Sderot store; mayor: If operation Autumn Clouds was a one-time thing, then it is unnecessary
Three people sustained light injuries from shrapnel and several others suffered from shock Thursday evening when a Qassam rocket fired from north Gaza landed just a few meters from a store located in a Sderot shopping center.
The shop’s owner was among those injured; the shop is located in close proximity to the store that was hit in Wednesday’s rocket attack.
Earlier on Thursday two rockets landed in agricultural fields in the western Negev; no injuries or damage were reported.
'We are realistic people'
Eyewitness Yitzhak Sassi told Ynet, “The ‘Color Red’ alert system was activated, and then a loud blast was heard. The store owner, who heard the siren, ran toward a secure area, and his life was saved. It was a miracle, because had there been more people in the store, I’m convinced that they would not have walked out of it alive. The rocket caused total destruction.”
The shopping center was packed during the rocket attack; dozens of residents confronted Defense Minister Amir Peretz upon his arrival at the scene, but they were quickly dispersed by police for fear of another attack.
Sderot Mayor Eli Moyal said, “We are realistic people; we understand that the Qassam threat will not be resolved in a day or even a year. The country must make it clear to the Palestinians that in lieu of a diplomatic process – the only option is to respond to these attacks.
“If operation ‘Autumn Clouds’ was a one-time thing, then it was unnecessary, but if it is part of a general concept, then we hope it will lead to results,” he said.
