Qassam in Sderot (Archives)
Photo: Ze'ev Trachtman
Qassam lands near Sderot; no injuries
Ceasefire between Israel, Hamas breached once again as rocket fired by Palestinians in northern Strip hits open area near western Negev kibbutz. Israel seals goods crossings in response
The ceasefire between Israel and the armed Palestinian groups in Gaza was breached Thursday when a Qassam fired from the Hamas-controlled enclave landed in an open field near a kibbutz in the Sderot area. No injuries or damage were reported in the attack.
In response to the attack Defense Minister Ehud Barak has ordered that the goods crossings between Israel and Gaza remain closed, including Kerem Shalom and the fuel terminal at Nahal Oz.
The "Color Red" alert system sounded in the southern city at 7:47 am, as Sderot's children were making their way to school. Residents fled to secure areas to take cover.
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"My daughter was waiting at the bus stop for her ride to school when the "Color Red" alert system was activated," one of the residents told Ynet. "I ran to the window and saw my daughter taking cover near the bus stop; there was pandemonium on the street.
Following the Qassam launching Alon Schuster, head of the Shaar Hanegev Regional Council, called on the government to make good on its promise to fortify residential homes in Israeli communities surrounding Gaza.
Also on Thursday, security forces were checking reports of a blast heard near Kfar Aza, but no rocket landing site has been located as of yet.
Last week a Qassam fired from north Gaza landed in an open area within the limits of the Ashkelon Beach Regional Council. No injuries or damage were reported in the attack, but Defense Minister Ehud Barak ordered the closure of the Gaza crossings in response.
