Rocket in Sderot with 'al-Quds' inscribed on it in Hebrew (archive photo)
Photo: Amir Cohen
Qassam lands near Ashkelon strategic facility
Palestinians fire three rockets toward Ashkelon, Sderot; no injuries reported; three mortars fired by Palestinians land in Gaza. ‘Unearthing of weapons-smuggling tunnels and IDF’s activity in area not enough to stop Qassam attacks,’ Sderot resident says
After a relatively long period of calm in Ashkelon, a Qassam rocket fired by Palestinians in north Gaza landed in the city on Friday morning. An hour and-a-half later two more rockets were fired toward the western Negev city of Sderot.
No injuries were reported in either attack.
At around 10 a.m. three mortar shells were fired by Palestinian terrorists, but they apparently landed in Gaza.
The first rocket was fired toward Israel at around 6 a.m. and landed near a strategic facility in Ashkelon; damage was done to the road leading to the site.
Last week Palestinians reported that two rockets were fired toward the city, but the Qassams apparently fell in the sea.
At 7:30 a.m. two Qassams launched from Gaza toward Sderot landed in open areas in and outside the city. The blasts stirred panic among the residents, as the attack occurred just as children were making their way to schools throughout the city; security establishment sources estimate that the rockets were fired in the morning specifically for this reason.
Residents held an impromptu demonstration at the landing site of one of the rockets and called on the government to act with added force against the Qassam fire.
“The unearthing of weapons-smuggling tunnels and the IDF’s activity in the area is not enough to stop the Qassam attacks,” Sderot resident Avi Farchan said. “The IDF must seize hills and mountain ranges near Dugit, Elei Sinai (former Gaza settlements) and Ashkelon and thus out an end to the attacks.”
