5 Qassams fired at southern Israel
Rockets hit open areas near town of Sderot, western Negev kibbutzim; no injuries or damage reported. IDF fires artillery shells at northern Gaza Strip in response
The rockets were fired from the area of the Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun in Gaza, and the IDF fired artillery shells in response toward the northern Strip.
Residents of the western Negev and communities south of Ashkelon are continuing to suffer from continuous Qassam rocket attacks. No less than five rockets were fired at Gaza towards Israel Wednesday night.
One rocket fell in the Mediterranean Sea, while the others fell in the vicinity of Kibbutz Karmiya and Kibbutz Zikim, south of Ashkelon. A number of other rockets fell in the Palestinian Authority territory.
In recent days, most of the rockets have fallen in an area south of Ashkelon, and the area remains on high alert. The Red Dawn alert system identified the rocket attacks and warned local residents.
Lachish District Commander Effi Mor said that the rockets were being fired due to the army's operations south of the area.
"As a district we are prepared for all rockets being fired at all times. As a model, we have the Sderot station, a model which works very well, and on which we base our activities in every instance of rocket fire," he said.
Residents: Government has forgotten us
Southern Command Chief Yoav Galant visited Sderot Wednesday, and was briefed by its mayor on Qassam rocket attacks on the southern city, and the feelings of many residents that nothing is being done.
Leaflets were handed out in communities bordering Gaza calling on local residents to arrive for a demonstration on Friday at the Yad Mordechai Junction.
The leaflets called on residents to "make sure we are not forgotten. We set up a forum that will concentrate our activities, so that our voices are heard, and for the security of the residents. The government has simply forgotten us."
The flyers were signed by the "No More Qassams Forum."
Shmulik Hadad contributed to this report
