Gaza terror groups continued their shelling southern Israel Monday, expanding their radius to and hitting – for the first time in the current escalation – the greater Gedera area.
Dozens of Grad missiles and Qassam rockets were fired at Israel's western Negev communities, hitting the entire southern sector, from the Gaza vicinity communities and Sderot, to Beersheba, Ashdod, Ashkelon Gan Yavne and Gedera; followed by the sounds of exploding projectiles.
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Two women suffered shrapnel injuries, several people suffered shock and damage was caused to various properties through the area.
Iron Dome batteries stationed across the sector engaged successfully several times, intercepting half-a-dozen rockets, including a rocket fired at the southern city of Ashdod around 5 pm. The IDF confirmed several IAF strikes against Gaza terror cells gearing to fire rockets at Israel.
The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the morning's salvo.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the IDF is prepared to expand its operations against terror groups: "We will hit anyone who intends to hurt our citizens… The citizens' strength and our offensive and defensive capabilities allow us to act in a precise way," he told the Likud faction.
On noon Monday, Home Front Command Chief Major General Eyal Eisenberg held a situa Eisenberg said he anticipates the tension to last for a few more days.
"We have the necessary endurance, and it all depends on what the other side does," he said. "Everyone must understand that if the south doesn't resume normal life neither will Gaza."
- He also urged residents adhere to the Home Front Command's safety procedures.
Neri Brenner, Yoav Zitun and Aviel Magnezi contributed to this report
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First published: 14:54, 03.12.12