Meer dan 40 raketten op Sderot

Dinsdag is een recordaantal raketten afgevuurd op Sderot. Dinsdag is ook een recordaantal Palestijnen (vooral militanten) op één dag omgekomen: 16.

 

En dinsdag is een vrijwilliger op een kibboets doodgeschoten door Palestijnse schutters, ondanks het hek om de Gazastrook en de veiligheidsstrook erlangs (zo breed kan die dus niet zijn). Een trieste dag dus, maar dat geldt voor veel dagen.

 

Ratna

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Sderot braces for more rockets

Southern town under attack: More than 40 Qassams fired at Sderot Tuesday, bomb shelters opened; meanwhile, more social workers, psychologists dispatched to help residents, IDF decides to keep schools open

Shmulik Hadad YNET Latest Update: 01.15.08, 23:23 / Israel News
www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3494754,00.html

Sderot hit by massive rocket offensive: More than 40 rockets were fired at southern communities Tuesday afternoon and evening. Most of the rockets targeted the southern town of Sderot, prompting municipal officials to convene an emergency meeting to decide on the next moves in the rocket-stricken town.

In the meeting, led by Mayor Eli Moyal, officials decided to boost the entire support system offered to Sderot residents coping with ceaseless Qassam attacks. Bomb shelters will be opened and more social workers, psychologists, and doctors will be sent to help residents.

Four civilians, including a 5-year-old girl, sustained shrapnel wounds in Tuesday's attacks. One of the rockets fired at Sderot hit a power line, causing power outages in some sections of town.

Turbulent Tuesday

Mayor Moyal said the rocket attacks were an ongoing reality and added that officials were constantly assessing the situation. "The defense establishment also boosted its forces here in Sderot. Regarding the education system, we will consult with security officials and together take a decision regarding the opening of schools on Wednesday." Later, the army decided to keep schools open.

The Qassam offensive started around 4:15 PM Tuesday, with one rocket hitting a chicken processing plant in town. Hamas' Izz al-Din al-Qassam brigades claimed responsibility for the rocket attacks and also for separate mortar attacks.

The rocket strikes were part of a turbulent Tuesday that saw a volunteer from Ecuador murdered by a Palestinian sniper in a Gaza-region kibbutz.

IDF forces were also busy throughout the day, with a total of 18 Palestinians killed in various IDF attacks and operations, including the son of senior Hamas figure Mahmoud al-Zahar.

First Published: 01.15.08, 22:38