Foreign worker moderately wounded in Qassam attack
Rocket fired by Palestinians in northern Gaza at approximately 1:15 pm strikes chicken coop in Eshkol Regional Council community; Thai worker evacuated to Beersheba hospital with moderate injuries to his hand
A foreign worker from Thailand sustained moderate injuries to his hand Saturday when a Qassam rocket fired from northern Gaza struck a chicken coop in a moshav located within the Eshkol Regional Council's limits. Another man was lightly injured in the attack.
The injured worker was evacuated to Beersheba's Soroka Medical Center by Magen David Adom (MDA) paramedics.
Injured man evacuated to hospital. (Photo: Israel Yosef)
According to reports, the attack occurred at approximately 1:15 pm. Islamic Jihad's armed wing, the al-Quds Brigades, claimed responsibility for the attack.
Ofer, the son of the chicken coop owner told Ynet "I was working with five foreign workers when suddenly a loud explosion was heard. One of the workers was injured in his hand from shrapnel. I immediately evacuated him to nearest MDA clinic.
Ofer said the chicken coop was severely damaged, adding that "we have no Color Red alert system in the moshav, so we had no prior warning of the incoming rocket and could not run for cover in a secure structure."
Shalom, the owner of the chicken coop, said that he feared the rocket attack frightened the workers. "I sat and spoke to them, tried to calm them, and promised I would pay more, but they are still afraid. I'm not sure they will want to come back to the coop," he said.
Eshkol Regional Council head Haim Yalin accused the government of failing to act against the incessant rocket fire on the Negev region. "The Qassams continue to fall and the politicians are immersed in (Prime Minister Ehud) Olmert's 'cash envelopes' affair. We cannot continue to live in this situation."
On Friday at 5:15 pm two Qassams fired from the Strip landed in open areas in the Negev region. No injuries or damage were reported. The al-Quds Brigades claimed responsibility for that attack as well.
Just a few hours later two more rockets landed in open areas in the Negev. No injuries or damage were reported.
