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Photo: Amir Cohen

PRC: Residents of southern Israel should evacuate

'What was up until now is nothing compared to what will be,' Popular Resistance Committees threatens after claiming responsibility for Friday's rocket barrages towards Israel's south. Israelis should run for the sake of their children's safety, says terror group. More than 20 Qassams have been launched towards Israeli communities since daybreak, causing no injuries but damaging property

The Popular Resistance Committees called on the residents of Israel's south to evacuate their families from the line of fire on Friday afternoon. In all more than 20 Qassam rockets have been launched towards Israel from northern Gaza on Friday. Abu Mujihad, a spokesman for the Salah al-Din Brigades (the military

wing of the PRC) claimed responsibility for the barrages and told Ynet the attacks were in retaliation for the killing of one of the organization's senior commanders, Abu al-Sa'ad.

 

A senior PRC official, Abu Abir, warned the attacks would only increase and urged the evacuation of Sderot and its neighboring communities. "What was up until now is nothing compared to what will be. We call on them (the Israelis) to evacuate for their safety and the safety of their children," he said.

 

Two of the rockets launched on Friday landed in Netiv Haasara and damaged several greenhouses. Another rocket landed in Ashkelon's industrial zone. The rest landed in open areas in the western Negev and north of Sderot. No injuries were reported in any of the attacks.

 

Meanwhile National Infrastructure Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer addressed the criticism voiced by human rights organizations following Israel's decision to cut back on its supply of electricity to the Gaza Strip.

 

"I respect them (the rights groups), but I expect this bunch to go to the western Negev and defend the rights of our children, the rights of thousands of people who leave in fear, the nursery school that could be hit by a Qassam at any given moment," said the minister.

 

Hizbullah tactics in Gaza

Meanwhile on Thursday IDF forces operating in northern Gaza uncovered, for the first time, two rocket launchers concealed in underground firing positions.

 

The new tactic is considered a sophisticated method aimed at enabling terror groups to fire at Israel while evading IDF counterattacks immediately following the launching of rockets. The two launching positions were uncovered at the outskirts of the Gaza town of Jabalya.

 

The positions detected in the operation were concealed and highly reminiscent of Hizbullah's modus operandi in southern Lebanon – from where Katyusha rockets were launched towards Israel from launchers buried underground in thickly wooded areas.

 

Roni Sofer and Shmulik Hadad contributed to this report

 


פרסום ראשון: 02.08.08, 09:49
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