Qassam rocket in Sderot
Photo: Reuters
9 Qassams fall in south
Since midnight Palestinians fired 9 Qassams at Ashkelon, Sderot; Red Dawn system not activated; Sderot residents demand tough military action
If Katyusha attack in the north were not enough, Palestinian gunmen on Thursday fired nine Qassam rockets towards Ashkelon and Sderot.
For unknown reasons, the Red Dawn alert system was activated intermittently, leading residents to complaint to security officials.
Military officials said the rockets were small and could not be identified by the system.
In a protest tent set outside the municipality building in Sderot protesters hanged a banner reading: "Our hearts are with northern residents."
Ariyeh Cohen, who is leading the protest, said that residents are refraining from criticizing the security forces, but added that the Palestinians are using the situation in the north to fire rockets at Israel.
Cohen said southern residents hope the Israel Defense Forces will step up operations in Gaza. "That's the time to act firmly and decisively against rocket fire and of course to return kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit who is in the Gaza Strip."
The tent hosted a Sderot resident whose wife suffered from shock in rocket attacks on the city.
She has been receiving medical treatment for anxiety. Her husband suggested she moves to his parents' in the northern town of Ma'alot, where she is staying.
Cohen said of the couple: "When rockets fell in the Ma'a lot area, she panicked and left for Nahariya to her parents and today a Katyusha fell 10 meters away from the house in which she was staying. She became anxious especially being a Sderot resident. What’s absurd is that she suggested her parents accompany her to Sderot until the situation calms down in Sderot."
