No Qassam found this time
Photo: Ze'ev Trachtman
Qassam report false; Gaza crossings sealed off without reason
Defense Minister Ehud Barak ordered closure of Gaza Strip crossings following report of Qassam attack Thursday morning; later it turned out that report was false, alert system malfunction suspected
The Qassam that wasn't: Defense officials believe that reports of a Qassam rocket attack
on the Western Negev Thursday morning were false. Security officials have been searching for rocket remains the whole day, but to no avail.
Defense officials are looking into different possibilities to explain the mishap. One possibility being examined is a malfunction in the anti-rocket alert system deployed by the IDF.
However, the false report already prompted an Israeli response, in the form of sealing off the Gaza Strip crossings. Defense Minister Ehud Barak consulted with security officials following the reported attack and ordered to close off crossings used to transfer goods from Israel to the Gaza Strip.
As a result, the Kerem Shalom crossing as well as the Nahal Oz fuel terminal.
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. Security forces were also checking reports of a blast heard near the community of Kfar Aza,
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.
