Over 70 rockets have been fired from Gaza into southern Israel since Wednesday morning (Oct 24). Five civilians were wounded, two of them critically. The Iron Dome system intercepted seven rockets aimed at major Israeli cities. Several houses suffered direct hits. Schools have been closed in three regional councils in the area and citizens were instructed to remain in bomb shelters. Crossings from Israel to the Gaza Strip have been closed due to the ongoing danger.
In response to heavy rocket fire, an IAF aircraft targeted a rocket launching site in the northern Gaza Strip. An IAF aircraft targeted a tunnel used for smuggling by terror organizations in the northern Gaza Strip and Armored Forces targeted terror activity sites.
IDF Spokesman Yoav Mordechai said that Israel holds Hamas responsible for all rocket fire from Gaza.
"No country would tolerate such an attack on its citizens", - Ambassdor of Israel in Georgia, Mr. Yuval Fuchs said yesterday.
PM Netanyahu: "We neither chose nor initiated this escalation, but if it continues we are prepared for much more extensive and deeper action. In any case, we will continue with preventative operations. Whoever intends to attack Israeli citizens needs to know that he will bear the consequences."
President Peres: "There is no circumstance under which they will fire upon on us and we will sit on our hands. I want to tell the residents of Gaza and their leaders, they have to decide what they want - to build or to shoot."
On Tuesday, October 23, an IDF officer was severely wounded while on a routine patrol adjacent to the security fence in the central Gaza Strip when Palestinian terrorists detonated an explosive placed on a gate. On Tuesday night, Israel Air Force aircraft successfully targeted a rocket launch squad in Gaza which was in its final stages of preparation to fire rockets.
PM Netanyahu (Oct 23): "These terror attacks, which threaten all of us, continue unabated. Today we engaged in exchanges against terrorist aggression that comes from our southern border in Gaza, but it actually comes from Iran and a whole terror network that is supporting these attacks."
Farm workers at a chicken pen were critically wounded
(All photos: IDF Spokesperson)