Grad Rocket Fired On Ashkelon

While talks concerning some kind of truce in Gaza Strip continue, residents of southern
Israel received another reminder this morning that the threat of rocket fire looming over them remained very real.

At around 7:10 a.m. local time, Palestinian militants fired a Grad rocket at Ashkelon. A siren sounded throughout the city, followed immediately by a powerful explosion in the city center.

The rocket landed in a residential neighborhood. Three people suffered from shock and were evacuated to Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon Hospital for treatment. A number of cars were also damaged.

In the wake of the incident yesterday morning, the Ashkelon Parents Association called for parents to keep their children out of schools for the day. The municipality alternatively announced that, following a situation assessment, a decision was made to hold classes as usual in schools and kindergartens throughout the city.

Last night, a Qassam rocket was fired from northern Gaza. The location of where the rocket fell was not discovered inside Israeli territory. Earlier in the day, three mortar shells were fired at the Kerem Shalom area.

The Israel Air Force (IAF) attacked the squad that had fired the mortar shells. Three Palestinians sustained serious injuries as a result. 



Terrorist Killed En Route To Major Terror Attack In South



The terror organizations have not stopped trying to attack residents of southern Israel. Officials with the Israel Defense Force’s (IDF) Central Command believe that the interception of a terrorist who was killed in the southern Hebron hills prevented the execution of a major shooting attack in one of the cities in southern Israel.


Troops from the Israeli Armored Corps, which was operating in the area near the Hebron Hills community of Beit Yatir, identified the terrorist yesterday after the car he was driving stopped in a suspicious way some
25 feet from the soldiers. At a certain point, the terrorist opened fire at the troops. The soldiers quickly returned fire and killed the terrorist. On his body, the troops found a Kalashnikov assault rifle,
four magazines and a handgun. Large numbers of troops were called to scour the area to make sure that there were not any additional terrorists on the ground. Israel Army Central region commander Maj. Gen. Gadi Shamni also arrived on the scene, where he commended the soldiers for a job well
done.


An Israeli intelligence investigation determined the terrorist was planning on committing a shooting attack in one of Israel’s southern cities, but was surprised when he saw the soldiers, which likely is why he opened fire at
them.

David Bedein can be reached at dbedein@israelbehindthenews.com