VIDEO - The Israeli Air Force attacked a Qassam launching cell near the Gaza town of Khan Younis on Tuesday. According to Palestinian sources in the Strip, a member of Hamas' armed wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, was killed and five more gunmen were injured in the strike.
Five Qassam rockets were fired from Gaza toward Israeli territory since Tuesday morning. Both landed in open areas south of Ashkelon. A brushfire erupted as a result and shrapnel hit a high-voltage line.
The Popular Resistance Committees claimed responsibility for the rocket attacks.
Shuli Katz, a 70-year-old resident of Kibbutz Gvaram was killed Monday evening when a Qassam rocket slammed into the backyard of a residential home in Yesha – a small community belonging to the Eshkol Regional Council.
Yossi Yadin, a resident of the area, told Ynet: “the rocket landed very close to us, and pictures and objects went flying inside the house from the blast. Luckily, we were able to arrange a few secure rooms adjacent to our homes, but some of them are inefficient because it takes too much time to reach them. We are very concerned about the situation. This must be resolved.”
Head of the Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council Alon Shuster, and Eshkol Regional Council head Haim Yalin approached Prime Minister Ehud Olmert demanding to meet with US President George W. Bush during his upcoming visit to the region.
According to Shuster, “Due to Israel’s powerlessness and avoidance of the Gaza vicinity communities, causing the death of two people in four days, we insist on meeting with the ‘real boss,’ president Bush, who has the power to determine the lives of 40,000 Israelis in the region. His presence in Israel thwarts a proper response for the sake of protecting the residents.”
Ali Waked and Shmulik Hadad contributed to the report
First published: 14:55, 05.13.8