News
Gaza rockets target Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa; Israel foils West Bank terror attack
Israelis took shelter yesterday as around 185 Gaza rockets were fired at major cities including Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and overnight Haifa. Meanwhile, Israeli air strikes continued to destroy Hamas infrastructure in the Gaza Strip.
On day three of Operation Protective Edge, rockets continued to rain down on southern and central Israel. The Iron Dome anti-missile system continued to intercept those heading for civilians. Two soldiers were lightly wounded by mortar shrapnel in the Eshkol region while an Ashdod resident was seriously injured when a rocket struck a car. Israel’s capital Jerusalem was targeted for the first time since the operation was launched, with six rockets landing in the vicinity. With the city home to a large Arab community, Jerusalem’s Mayor Nir Barkat commented, “Indiscriminate rockets don’t know the difference between boys, girls, Christians, Muslims and Jews.”
Meanwhile Hamas admitted to firing a number of rockets on Israel’s largest northern city Haifa at around 4am, the furthest north that Hamas has yet reached. A 70-year-old woman collapsed and died in Haifa while rushing to take shelter after the siren sounded.
Israel continued its air offensive against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip yesterday. During the past 24 hours, Israeli forces hit 210 targets including hit 81 underground rocket launchers, 21 command and control centres, 15 attack tunnels, and ten training centres. According to a Gaza Health Ministry official, 26 Palestinians were killed during yesterday’s air strikes. Palestinians in the vicinity of the Gaza border were asked by the IDF to leave the area in another indication that Israel is preparing for a possible ground incursion. The Gaza Interior Ministry sent out text messages to residents calling on them to disregard Israel’s warnings.
Also yesterday, Israeli security guards on Route 5 stopped a suspicious car near the West Bank city of Ariel, which contained gas canisters connected to electric wires. The Defence Ministry said that the driver admitted to planning a bombing.