Qassam rocket (archive photo)
Photo: Tal Avitan
Qassam lands near strategic facility in Ashkelon
Rocket fired from Gaza lands in city’s southern industrial zone; no injuries reported
A Qassam rocket fired by Palestinians in Gaza Sunday evening landed near a strategic facility located in Ashkelon’s southern industrial zone. No injuries were reported in the attack.
Witnesses said that unlike previous strikes, a siren did not sound in the area.
“We heard a relatively weak blast and understood that a rocket landed,” one worker said. “We did not get any warning of an incoming rocket, so initially it was unclear what had happened.”
Earlier on Sunday the Palestinians reported that a Qassam was launched toward the Ashkelon area, but security forces dispatched to the scene did locate a landing site. However, security officials estimate that a blast heard near a Kibbutz in the southern Negev was in fact a rocket landing in Palestinian territory.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert hinted Sunday that Israel would launch military operations against gunmen in the Gaza Strip if rocket attacks persisted.
"Israel has no interest in an escalation in Gaza, but we will not be able to ignore the continuation of Qassam fire and infiltration attempts by terror groups," he told the cabinet.
