Volley of Rockets from Gaza Slam Israel Overnight (Video)
“The Lord roars from Zion, and utters his voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth quake. But the Lord is a refuge to his people, a stronghold to the people of Israel.” (Joel 3:16)
Smoke rises following an Israeli attack on Gaza City on November 15, 2012. (Photo: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
Terrorists in Gaza have upped their relentless acts of terror against the Jewish state early Monday morning as a volley of rockets slammed southern Israel.
Overnight, the Israeli Air Force carried out targeted strikes against terror sites in the Gaza Strip with terrorists firing at least 16 missiles towards Israeli cities Monday morning. According to the IDF, most of the rockets hit open areas in the Eshkol region.
In the Sdot Negev region, police reported that two civilians were treated for shock when a rocket hit between two homes, causing light damage.
IDF Spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner stated that at least eight rockets landed just after 7 a.m. near the border with Gaza.
Haim Yellin, head of the Eshkol Regional Council, warned that the successful deterrence Israel achieved during 2012’s Operation Pillar of Defense had run out.
“Israel’s government has two arms, political and military, and it needs to use both wisely to return quiet to the region,” he stated according to Ynet. “THe feeling is that we are going back several years. We’re going back to experience the days between Operation Cast Lead and Operation Pillar of Defense.”
“Residents of the Gaza Belt area are standing up to this challenge because we have to continue our lives. We’ve been living like this for 13 years already, so it isn’t something unknown,” Yellin added.
The missile attacks came hours after the IAF targeted rocket launching and terror sites in the Strip on Sunday night. Palestinian media reported three Palestinians were injured in the strikes and one was left dead. The man who was killed was reportedly a member of Hamas.
The IDF stated that it was targeting terrorists “in the southern Gaza Strip, during their final preparations to launch rockets and civilian communities of southern Israel.” Israel has maintained that Hamas, the terror organization governing the Gaza Strip, is responsible for all terror attacks emanating from the area.
“Hamas is responsible for the outrageous attacks originating from Gaza, and will be pursued as such,” Lerner stated.
Early Sunday morning, IAF planes struck 12 terror sites in Gaza responsible for rocket fire that took place over the weekend. Two of the rockets hit the town of Sderot, causing a massive fire that destroyed a paint factory.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed his cabinet that Israel is willing to increase its operations against Hamas. “We are ready to expand this operation as per need,” Netanyahu told his cabinet Sunday morning.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman told media on Sunday that the IDF should retake control of the entire Gaza Strip.
“We have to decide if we are heading to a scenario of re-taking full control of the strip,” Liberman told Army Radio. “We’ve seen that a limited operation just strengthens Hamas, so the alternative is clear. There is no scenario in between.”
Since the beginning of June, over 60 rockets have been launched by terrorists in Gaza towards Israel.
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