Tag Archives: Rocket

Two Israelis Injured In Rocket Attack In Beersheba

A Hamas rocket that made it through the Iron Dome defense system struck a home in Beersheba today, injuring two people including an 80-year-old grandmother who had to be rushed to a local hospital.

The rocket came an hour after Iron Dome has intercepted two rockets over Tel Aviv and at least two over Herzliya.  The Israeli Defense Force says that the percentage of rockets shot down by Iron Dome is around 70 percent.

The IDF says that more Iron Dome batteries will be deployed throughout the country to try and increase the interception percentage of the system.

Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon spoke with the people who manufacture the system to encourage them as they increase their output to meet the current battle situation.

“Your efforts, and those of your people in this operation is very impressive, and inspirational,” Ya’alon added. “In recent days, you and your people are working with dedication, day and night, to instantly set up more Iron Dome batteries, which will go into operation during [the current] Operation Protective Edge, and will defend the Israeli people.”

At least 90 rockets from Hamas have been fired into Israel in the last 24 hours.

Israeli Ambassador: We Must Respond

The Israeli ambassador to the United States says that his country cannot sit by and be passive while Hamas rains down rockets upon its citizens.

Ambassador Ido Aharoni told Fox News that his country will remain on high alert and that air strikes will continue because of the increased hostility toward Israel from the terrorist group Hamas.

“Hamas’ decision to escalate the situation puts us in a very difficult and unpleasant position,” said Aharoni. “We have to respond in a swift and comprehensive fashion because we are looking at a century-old Arab onslaught on Jewish national sovereignty in the land of Israel – that didn’t start yesterday.”

Aharoni said that Israel’s cabinet is currently debating a plan to send troops into the Gaza Strip to root out Hamas’ leadership and networks.

“One thing for sure we understand: We are in it for the long run, the goal of Operation Protective Edge, named for the offensive [against Hamas], is to bring about stability, calm and quiet to Israel’s southern and central region,” he said.

He said that Hamas has about 12,000 rockets in the Gaza Strip.

Israel Steps Up Strikes On Terrorist Rocket Launcher Positions

The Israeli Defense Forces struck over 320 Hamas terror sites in the Gaza Strip overnight bringing the total to 750 in the last three days.  The sites struck were mainly rocket launcher sites and areas connected to the terrorist organization’s tunnel system.

The strikes come as Israeli intelligence stopped an attempt by Hamas terrorists to sneak a bomb into Israel.  Authorities stopped a car with Palestinian plates at a checkpoint and discovered the bomb inside.  The suspects were arrested and admitted they were planning to carry out an attack on civilians.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told reporters the situation is at a crisis level.

“This is one of the most critical tests the region has faced in recent years,” he said. “Gaza is on a knife-edge. The deteriorating situation is leading to a downward spiral which could quickly get beyond anyone’s control.”

Palestinians have been trying to claim that Israel is targeting civilians but the Israeli ambassador to the U.N. told reporters that Hamas has taken to hiding in civilian homes and businesses to try and avoid retribution for their activities.  One Hamas headquarters is located within a working hospital.

Hamas Declares All Israelis To Be Legitimate Targets

Officials say that half of the Israeli population is in bomb shelters because of ongoing rocket attacks in central Israel by the Islamic terrorist group Hamas. The terrorist group has declared in a public statement “all Israelis have now become legitimate targets.”

The leaders of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem opened their city’s public bomb shelters because of the level of the attacks.  Officials also told residents to open and prepare their private bomb shelters for the possibility of a prolonged assault.

An Iron Dome battery was able to successfully shoot down an incoming rocket over Tel Aviv.  Hamas announced they had fired four rockets at the capital but there was no evidence of three more rockets impacting in the city.

According to the Israeli Defense Force, over 120 rockets struck within the Israeli borders during the night.  Iron Dome destroyed 23 rockets in Ashdod, Ashkelon and communities along the Gaza border.

Israeli spokesman Mark Regev told reporters that Israel had reached out to the terrorist group in an attempt to de-escalate the situation and found that the terrorist group was not interested in ending the current conflict.  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called world leaders to tell them their position that they could not sit by and allow their country to be attacked by a terrorist organization and not respond to their provocation.

Rocket Barrage Takes It’s Toll on Israeli Citizens

Israelis ran for the safety of bomb shelters on Wednesday when Islamic Jihad fired over 40 rockets into southern Israel. Then they sought shelter gain Thursday morning when sirens alerted them of another rocket attack.

The attacks couldn’t come at a worse time for Israeli citizens who had been partaking in festivities leading up to Purim, a Jewish holiday with carnival-like traditions. Fairs and parties have been held all over the country before the holiday starts on Sunday night.

Terri Davis, a resident of Ashkelon located near the Israel/Gaza border, stated how difficult it was for her and her preschool students during the attack.

“When we heard the sirens, 70 children and 15 adults crowded into the shelter,” she said. “The children, who were dressed in costumes, had been happy and singing when the siren went off, and I saw panic in their eyes. But the teachers and soldiers who had come for the party kept the children calm, singing and dancing.”

Other difficulties for the residents near the Gaza border included not being warned about the first round of attacks. Adele Raemar who lives a mile from the Gaza border only took shelter after he heard an explosion.

“There was no warning, no red alert,” Raemer said, referring to the system that warns residents near the border of imminent attack. “The windows shook. My son and I and our two dogs ran into my shelter.”

Although tensions are high between Israel and Gaza, Raemer felt compassion for the Gaza families who lived near the border.

“I’m sure the man on the street in Gaza just wants to put bread on his table and have his kids go to school and come home safely,” Raemer said. “Unfortunately, the people of Gaza haven’t been able to [stop] the Iranian-backed organizations that are making their lives as miserable, if not more miserable, than ours.”

Strikes Fired Between Gaza Militant and Israel Despite “Truce”

Gaza militants continued firing at Israel on Thursday despite a supposed truce that had been formed.

According to Islamic Jihad’s leader in Gaza, Egypt had helped the militants resume a ceasefire agreement from 2012. Israel did not confirm this.

Eight more rockets were fired into Israel on Thursday. Israel retaliated by striking seven “terror sites” in Gaza.

No Israeli casualties were reported Thursday. Witnesses stated that three Palestinians were wounded, but did not confirm if they were civilians or militants.

Rockets Fired Into Israel

Gaza militants fired more than 40 rockets within two hours into southern Israel on Wednesday making this the largest rocket barrage to hit Israel since 2012 according to the Israeli military.

Only three of the rockets were intercepted by Israel’s “Iron Dome” while eight hit populated areas. The rest fell in open areas.

The Islamic Jihad militant group behind the attack wanted vengeance for three of their members who were killed in an Israeli airstrike the day before. Additional Gaza militant groups also joined in on the attack including the Popular Resistance Group.

In retaliation to the attack, the Israeli air-force attacked several Jihad training camps.

“This retaliation was precise and prompt. We targeted the infrastructure that serves the terrorists while they train, plan and implement their hideous attacks. They will not be permitted to conspire in the safety of their terrorist temples,” Israeli Military spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised to continue the retaliation.

“We will continue to thwart (rocket attacks) and hit those that want to harm us, and we will act against them with great force,” Netanyahu said. “Last year, the number of rockets fired from Gaza was the lowest in a decade but that is not enough. We will continue to act to ensure the security of the citizens of Israel in the south and in the entire country.”

So far in 2014, Gaza militants have fired 32 rockets toward Israel before Wednesday’s attack.

No casualties were reported on either side Wednesday.