Gaza Terrorists Continue Firing Rockets Deep Into Israel

Throughout the airstrikes yesterday, rocket fire continued. Sirens were heard twice in Tel Aviv and the Dan Region, and three of the five missiles fired were intercepted. In one case, shrapnel scattered in one area right next to a crowded street in Tel Aviv; some 10 people were treated for shock.

There were also landings in Caesarea and Zichron Yaakov, on the outskirts of Haifa, as well as missiles fired eastward towards Dimona and Yerucham. Hamas boasted that they were targeting the nuclear reactor near Dimona. There was no damage or injuries in these strikes. Some of the missiles fired towards these areas were intercepted by Iron Dome batteries that had been deployed since before the operation in the area.

In all, more than 130 missiles and 17 mortars were fired into Israel yesterday. Of those, more than 30 were fired in a rapid two-minute salvo a few minutes before midnight, following two hours of relative quiet. Ninety percent of the missiles that were detected to be heading for populated areas were intercepted by Iron Dome. A senior air force official praised the skill of the batteries, which are improving over time.

Sirens and missile landings or interceptions were also heard yesterday in Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gan Yavneh, Beer Yaakov, Nes Tziona, Rishon Letzion, Beit Dagan, Zichron Yaakov, Caesarea, Netivot, Ofakim and other areas. This is all besides the 60 or so rockets that fell in the area right near the Gaza Strip. There were two direct hits on a house and one on a business, and two rockets exploded near private cars, which were significantly damaged.

At one point last night, sirens malfunctioned in Ashdod, and the Home Front Command ordered all residents to stay in safe areas as a precaution.

The spokesman for Izzadin Al Kassam, the Hamas Military wing official, took responsibility for the missiles fired toward Yerushalayim, Beit Shemesh and Tel Aviv. Later, the spokesman said the long-range missile fired towards Haifa, which reached Zichron Yaakov and Caesarea, was also fired by Hamas. He said that the Tel Aviv and Yerushalayim missiles were M 75 models, while the one toward the north was an M302, made in Syria. Several such missiles were caught on the Iranian ship that was caught in the Red Sea a few months ago. It is possible that the terrorists tried to prove to Israel that, despite the fact that the ship was caught, Hamas has other missiles of this type.

This article appeared in print on page 3 of the July 10th, 2014 edition of Hamodia.