Israel under fire July 2014 - A Diary
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Israel under fire July 2014 - A Diary

  •   One rocket every ten minutes
  •    
    Since the start of Operation Protective Edge, at least 1,820 rockets have been launched at Israel, striking at the civilian population throughout the country, from north to south.

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    Photos from the field

     
     
     
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    While Hamas uses its people as human shields, IDF soldiers protect a little boy during rocket fire on Sderot in southern Israel While Hamas uses its people as human shields, IDF soldiers protect a little boy during rocket fire on Sderot in southern Israel Copyright: Sderot Hasbara - Sderot Media Center
     
     

    With the increased range of Hamas rockets, some 6 million Israelis are currently living under the threat of rocket attacks.

    Since the beginning of Operation Protective Edge,
    two Israeli civilians have been killed and 41 wounded. Serious property damage has been reported.


    Daily distribution of rocket fire from the Gaza Strip during Operation Protective Edge


     Source: ITIC


    Sunday, July 20

    During the course of the day, at keast 87 rockets were fired from Gaza towards Israel, of which at least 70 rockets struck Israel and 16 were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system.


    Saturday, July 19

    3:45am: Rour rockets were shot down over Ashdod, a fifth exploded in a residential area, causing massive damage.

    The IDF thwarted a major attack on Israeli civilians near Ein Hashlosha on the Gaza border.

    Major (res.) Amotz Greenberg, 45 from Hod Hasharon and Adar Barsano, 20, from Nahariya were killed when Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israeli territory through a tunnel from the central Gaza Strip and ambushed a military vehicle patrolling on the Israeli side of the border.


    A large amount of weaponry was found at the scene of the clash near Ein Hashlosha on the Gaza border between IDF troops and the terrorists who infiltrated Israel from the central Gaza Strip. Hamas terrorists attempted to infiltrate Israel through an underground tunnel and massacre civilians in an Israeli community. IDF forces opened fire at the infiltrators. One terrorist was killed; the others escaped to Gaza. Two soldiers were wounded. The attack against Israeli civilians was thwarted.
    Weapons recovered after infiltration attempt via tunnel from Gaza, July 19, 2014
      Weapons recovered after infiltration attempt via tunnel from Gaza, July 19, 2014
      Copyright: IDF Spokesperson


    1:30pm: Ouda Lafi al-Waj, 32, was killed and three members of his family were injured, when a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip struck a small Bedouin settlement near Dimona. Of the wounded, a five-year-old boy sustained light wounds, a four-month-old baby is in serious condition and a woman suffered moderate wounds.
    Bedouin home near Dimona struck by rocket from Gaza
      Bedouin home near Dimona struck by rocket from Gaza
      Copyright: IDF Spokesperson

    On Saturday evening, a Hamas gunman emerged from a tunnel in southern Gaza and opened fire on IDF soldiers killing Sgt. Bnaya Rubel, 20, of Holon. Earlier, 21-year-old cadet Bar Rahav of Ramat Yishai was killed by an antitank missile fired at a paratrooper position.


    Friday, July 18

    During the course of the day, at keast 135 rockets were fired from Gaza towards Israel, of which at least 87 rockets struck Israel and 40 were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system. The IDF struck 240 terror targets and uncovered  10 terror tunnels in the Gaza Strip.

    Throughout the day, rockets were fired at southern Israel and Tel Aviv.
    6:30pm: A rocket exploded in Gan Yavne next to a kindergarten, damaging the building, and also damaged the neighboring synagogue. One women was injured.


    Thursday, July 17

    IDF forces thwart attack by Hamas terrorists attempting to infiltrate Israel via a terror tunnel and carry out a large-scale terror attack against civilians in a kibbutz.

    7:45am: The Iron Dome shoots down four missiles over Beersheba.
    8:45am: Rocket fire directed at Ashkelon, Tel Aviv, Emek Hefer, Petah Tikva, Raanana, Kfar Saba, Even Yehuda.
    10:00am - 3:00pm: A humanitarian truce was maintained by the IDF to allow the civilian population in Gaza to get supplies. Gazan terrorists violated the truce by firing three mortars at Israel. An IDF soldier was lightly injured by an explosion during operational activity near southern Gaza.
    3:01pm: Warning sirens sound in Ashkelon as rocket fire resumes.
    3:20pm: Sirens sound in Kibbutz Zikim on the seafront near Gaza, where President Peres visited with children this morning.
    President Peres visits with children in Kibbutz Zikim near Gaza
      Copyright: GPO/Mark Neiman

    3:40pm: Rockets shot down over Beersheba and Sderot.
    4:15pm: Sirens in Ashkelon, Netiv Haasarah, Yad Mordechai, Sderot and surrounding areas after a rocket fired from Gaza hits Beersheba.


    Wednesday, July 16

    During the course of the day, at keast 132 rockets were fired from Gaza towards Israel, of which at least 82 rockets struck Israel and 33 were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system. The IDF hit 176 terror targets in the Gaza Strip.

    7:40am: Large volley of rockets fired towards Ashkelon and surrounding communities
    8:20am: Two rockets intercepted over Kiryat Malachi
    9:20am: Warning sirens in Ra’anana, Tel Aviv, Petah Tikva, Herzliya, and Ashdod; 4 rockets intercepted over Tel Aviv. Home in south Tel Aviv sustains damage by rocket fragments.
    10:40am: Seven rockets explode in open areas in Eshkol region
    1:30pm: Warning sirens in Kiryat Gat, Ashdod, and Ashkelon
    2:30pm: Three rockets fired at Ashkelon. One fell outside a house in a residential area, close to where Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman and Norwegian Foreign Minister Børge Brende were visiting.
    FM Liberman and Norwegian FM Brende during a rocket attack in Ashkelon
      FM Liberman and Norwegian FM Brende during a rocket attack in Ashkelon
      Copyright: MFA

    5:15pm: Rockets fired at Ashkelon, Sderot, Netivot, and the Eshkol and Sdot Negev regions.
    9:00pm: Rockets fired at Ashdod and Ashkelon, one exploding near a school in Ashdod.

    A home in Ashkelon was severely damaged by a rocket fired from Gaza
      A home in Ashkelon was severely damaged by a rocket fired from Gaza.
      Copyright: IDF Spokesperson


    Tuesday, July 15

    During the course of the day, at keast 155 rockets were fired from Gaza towards Israel, of which at least 122 rockets struck Israel and 26 were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system. The IDF hit 96 terror targets in the Gaza Strip.


    2:00am: Two rockets were fired from the Sinai Peninsula and exploded in Eilat in southern Israel. Three people sustained light injuries from glass shards. Several other individuals were treated for shock. The rockets fell close to a hotel and caused significant damage to cars and property.
    Fire breaks out after rockets explode in Eilat
      Fire breaks out after rockets explode in Eilat 
      Copyright: IDF Spokesperson


    9am: Israel accepted Egyptian proposal for ceasefire.
    Since then, as of 2pm, Gaza terrorists have fired about 40 rockets at Israel since the ceasefire accepted by Israel. Rockets have been fired at Ashdod, Ashkelon, Netivot, Kiryat Malachi, Rishon Lezion, Rehovot, Nes Ziona and the Haifa area.
    Since 3pm, over 80 rockets have been fired at cities throughout Israel.
    7pm: A school for special needs children was hit in Rishon Lezion. Even during the summer vacation, these children attend classes every morning.

    Special education school hit by rocket shrapnel in Rishon Lezion
     Copyright: GPO/Haim Zach

    Dror Hanin
    7:30pm: An Israeli civilian was killed near the Erez Crossing after suffering a direct hit from a mortar fired by terrorists in the Gaza Strip, while delivering food to soldiers there. Dror Hanin was a 37-year-old father of three from Beit Aryeh. The Erez Crossing serves as the humanitarian crossing point from Israel into the Gaza Strip.



    Monday, July 14

    During the course of the day, at keast 115 rockets were fired from Gaza towards Israel, of which at least 92 rockets struck Israel and 15 were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system. The IDF hit 163 terror targets in the Gaza Strip.

    Shortly before 8 am, an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), which was identified entering Israel's territory, was shot down by an Israel Air Force Patriot surface-to-air-missile near the Ashdod coastline. Army radio reported it was likely carrying explosives in a fresh Hamas attempt to stage an attack on Israel.
    At 8:30am the Code Red siron was sounded in Ashkelon, Ashdod, Netivot, Hof Ashkelon, and Sdot Negev Regional Council, at 10:30am in Ashkelon, Kiryat Malakhi, and Be'er Tuvia, and at 11:20 rockets were fired at Ashkelon and Hof Ashkelon.
    At around 12:25pm rocket Code Red sirens sounded in Ashdod, Eshkol, Gav Yavne, and Kiryat Malakhi. One exploded in a residential area in Ashdod, lightly injuring an 8-year-old boy.
    6:30pm: A rocket fired from Syria fell in an open area in the Golan Heights.
    7:30pm: A rocket fired from Gaza hit the Bedouin village of Lakiya, near Beer Sheva, wounding two girls aged 11 and 13, one severely and one moderately.
    10:45pm: A rocket fired from Lebanon struck near the northern Israeli city of Nahariya.


    Sunday, July 13


    During the course of the day, at least 102 rockets struck Israel and 22 were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system.

    Shortly after 6 am, Code Red sirens sounded across central and southern Israel: Rehovot, Rishon LeZion, Modi'in, Ashdod, Lod, Ashkelon, Ramle, and Ben Gurion Airport. Later, a 16-year-old boy was seriously wounded and a 50-year-old man was lightly injured by a rocket blast in Ashkelon, as Ashkelon, Ashdod, and Be'er Sheva were targeted by rocket fire. The teenager tried to hide behind a wall when he failed to reach a fortified room in time.
    Shortly after 4:30pm, Code Red alerts sounded througout the Tel Aviv metropolitan area and in Haifa.
    8:25pm: Three rockets fired from Gaza were intercepted by the Iron Dome over the Ashdod area.
    9:23pm: A rocket fired from Gaza hit electricity infrastructure in Israel that supplied power to Gaza, cutting power to about 70,000 people in Gaza.


      The aftermath of a rocket attack on Ashkeon, July 13, 2014
      Copyright: GPO/Kobi Gideon


    Saturday, July 12

    During the course of the day, at least 129 rockets were fired from Gaza towards Israel, of which at least 117 rockets struck Israel and 9 were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system. The IDF hit 120 terror targets in the Gaza Strip.

    At around noon, Code Red alerts sounded in Ashdod, Ashkelon, the Eshkol Regional Council and Kiryat Gat in the south, and Nes Tziona Yavne and Rehovot.
    Shortly after 1:30pm, Code Red rocket alert sirens were sounded in Be'er Sheva, Dimona and Yeruham.
    At around 2pm, a rocket struck the road leading to a house in the southern community of Netivot. Two teenagers were injured.
    At 6:07pm, rocket alert sirens were sounded in Rishon Lezion, Ashdod, Nes Ziona, Yavne, Rehovot, Ramle, Lod, and Gan Yavne.
    At around 7pm, rocket alert sirens were sounded in Jerusalem, Beit Shemesh and the Dead Sea area, as well as in various communities near the Gaza border. Bethlehem and Hebron were hit by rockets fired from the Gaza Strip on Saturday night.
    After 9pm, 10 rockets were fired at central Israel in two volleys. Rocket alert sirens were sounded in Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, Bnei Brak, Petah Tikva, Herzliya, Rehovot, Yavne, Nes Tziona, Lod, Ramle, among others.


    Friday, July 11

    During the course of the day, more than 140 rockets were fired from Gaza towards Israel, of which at least 107 rockets struck Israel and 27 were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system. The IDF hit 235 terror targets in the Gaza Strip.

    At approximately 08:00 a missile hit an oil truck in a gas station in Ashdod seriously wounding one person and lightly wounding two others.
    During the night an alarm was sounded for the first time in Haifa. In Be'er Sheva, an 80 year old woman sustained moderate injuries when a Grad rocket hit her home at around 9pm, detonating the gas cylinders there. Her home was completely destroyed and two others were damaged.

    Rocket hits oil tanker, injures 3 people in Ashdod
    Rocket hits oil tanker, injures 3 people in Ashdod
    Copyright: GPO/Kobi Gideon


    Thursday, July 10
    Palestinian terrorists in Gaza fired 192 rockets at Israel on Thursday, July 10. 141 of them hit Israel, and an additional 44 were intercepted by Iron Dome.The total number of rockets launched since July 7 has reached 681.
    Despite continuous missile fire, the border crossings into Gaza remained opened all day Thursday as well. On Wednesday, 9 July 2014, a total of 1,228 tons of food, 280,000 liters of fuel and 3 truckloads of medical supplies were transferred from Israel into the Gaza Strip.

    During the night an alarm was sounded for the first time in Haifa. In a separate incident, a rocket was fired into Israel from Lebanon, no casualties or damage were reported.
     
    A woman leaves her car and attempts to shield her two children and find refuge during a rocket attack in Tel Aviv
    A woman leaves her car and attempts to shield her two children and find refuge during a rocket attack in Tel Aviv
    Copyright: IDF Spokesperson

    Wednesday, July 9
    82 rockets hit Israel  on Wednesday July 9. An additional 21 rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome.
    During the day, Iron Dome intercepted three rockets were over the Tel Aviv metropolitan area (Gush Dan), one over the town of Kiryat Gat and three over Ashdod. Aorund 7:30 p.m. a rocket hit a building near a kindergarden in the Sha’ar HaNegev regional council.

    Tuesday, July 8
    On Tuesday evening, rocket sirens sounded across central Israel including the country’s biggest cities, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
    146 rockets were launched from Gaza. Of these, 117 struck Israel and 29 were intercepted by the Iron Dome system.
     
    In this 24-hour period, residents of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, the southern cities of Be'er Sheva, Ashdod and Ashkelon, communities in southern Israel, including the city of Sderot, Ofakim, Sha'ar HaNegev, Sdot Negev, the Eshkol regional council, Merhavim, Kiryat Malachi, Hof Ashkelon and Be'er Tuvia and cities and towns in central Israel, including Rehovot, Herzliya, Gadera, Ramat Hasharon, Yavne, Caesarea, Binyamina, Rishon Lezion, Hadera, Givatiyim, Bat Yam and Holon were forced to seek shelter after the sirens sounded. The IDF has confirmed that three rockets hit the Jerusalem hills and one hit the city of Hadera, which is 100 km (62 miles) away from the Gaza Strip.
    There has been property damage, including from fires caused by the rockets and shrapnel.
    Due to Israel's extensive civil defense preparations, only minor injuries were reported. For example, nine civilians were lightly injured in Ashdod and the surrounding areas.

    Monday, July 7
    At least 80 rockets were fired at Israel from Gaza on Monday, July 7.
    Over 25 rockets fired from the Gaza Strip rained down on southern Israel Sunday (July 6), striking in the Hof Ashkelon Regional Council, the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council, and Sderot. This followed the rocket attacks on Saturday, two of which were fired at Beersheba. At least 29 other rockets and mortars fired from the Gaza Strip at Israel over the weekend.

    Avihai Jorno inspects the damage to his home in Sderot
    hit by a rocket fired from Gaza. (Photo: Reuters)