Hamas launches rockets at Tel Aviv area
Rockets intercepted over Ashkelon, Ashdod; sirens sounds in Rishon LeZion and Rehovot; woman suffers from shock.
Rocket fire at Israel resumed Wednesday night with sirens sounding at 10:20 am in Rishon LeZion. Rehovot and Ness Ziona. One rocket exploded in an open territory in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area. Hamas' military wing, al-Qassam Brigades claimed responsibility for the rocket fire.
Gaza militants also fired rockets on Ashkelon at 9:45 pm. Iron Dome intercepted three rockets launched on the city, while one fell in an open area. Two rockets were also intercepted over Merhavim.
Some six rockets fired from Gaza fell in open area in the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council after 5 pm on Wednesday. Another rocket fired from Gaza was intercepted above the southern town of Netivot.
After a relatively quiet night, rocket fire at southern Israel resumed in the morning when three rockets hit open areas in the Eshkol Regional Council.
Code Red rocket sirens were sounded in the Gaza border communities, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ofakim and the Sdot Negev Regional Council.
After announcing that the Gaza factions are not obligated to adhere to Israel's unilateral humanitarian ceasefire, requested by the UN, the Palestinians fired at least three rockets at Israel past the 3pm start time of the truce. One rocket hit inside a community in Sdot Negev, and a woman suffered from shock. Another was intercepted over Ashdod, and a third fell in an open area in Hof Ashkelon.
A spokesman from the armed wing of the Popular Resistance Committees said the humanitarian halt in fire was decided on without coordination with the Palestinian factions in Gaza, and is therefore unilateral and the Gaza groups are not obligated to adhere to it.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said "the ceasefire Israel declared is for the media and has no value because it does not include the areas of conflict on the border."
Before that, the relative calm from the night continued into the morning when a significantly low number of rockets were fired at southern Israel. Three rockets fell outside communities in Eshkol, two were intercepted over Netivot and Merhavim, and two exploded in farming areas, causing damage.
