Aftermath of rocket strike in Rehovot
While emergency teams were rushing through the Rehovot apartment building that was hit by a rocket on Thursday, Arthur Avramyan stood outside fearing for the fate of his elderly grandparents who lived there.
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An apartment takes direct hit from Gaza rocket in Rehovot on Thursday
(Photo: Shmulik Davidpur)
It was later that word came confirming his grandmother Inga was killed and his grandpa Sergey, was wounded. Avramyan was the first fatality in Israel, since the start of the IDF's Operation Shield and Arrow last Tuesday.
The distraught grandson spoke to Ynet reporters on the scene in the aftermath of the rocket attack, trying to gather information, as access to the destroyed building was blocked by security forces. Although he tried to remain optimistic, he felt something terrible had happened.
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Arthur Avramyan awaits news of his grandparents in Rehovot on Thursday
(Photo: Kobi Koankis)
The elderly couple, both in their 80s, had lived in a second-floor apartment in the central Israeli city. They had been married for 50 years and had immigrated from Armenia. Arthursaid they had a secure room in the apartment but were unable to reach it in time because Sergey was an amputee and was confined to a wheelchair.
"He was probably nervous, and my grandmother tried to help him up, but the siren came too late and they had too little time before the rocket hit," he said. She was likely hurt by a beam that fell, he said.
Sergey had suffered mild injuries, the grandson said. "He is bruised. It is a miracle that he was saved," he said. A picture of his grandfather's head appearing through a hole in the wall, caused by the impact of the rocket, spread on social media.
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A gaping hole where the appartment of Inga Avramyan's apartment was
(Photo: Shmulik Davidpur)
According to the IDF, a technical problem in the Iron Dome missile defense system, enabled the rocket fired from Gaza, to hit Rehovot. Other than Inga Avramyan who was killed, 13 others were wounded – most of them lightly but a woman in her 70s suffered moderate injuries.