The Tzeva Adom alarm sounded throughout Sderot, Saturday night, as a Qassam rocket fired from Gaza, landed in an open area in Sderot.
Saturday night marked the beginning of Tisha B’Av, a day that commemorates the day of the destruction of the First and Second Temple in Jerusalem, as well as other tragedies throughout Jewish history. Tisha B’Av is a day of fasting, praying and mourning for the Jewish people.
The Qassam rocket fired from Gaza on the night of Tisha B’Av served to remind the people of Sderot and the western Negev that the current period, even with the ceasefire, remains tense and insecure.
Michelle Katurza, a Sderot resident for 30 years, told SMC that she expected that the rocket fire would intensify today. “It is tradition to go and visit the cemetery and pay respects after morning prayers in the synagogue,” Michelle explained. “I was too afraid to go the cemetery in Sderot, because Qassams have hit the cemetery on numerous occasions. I felt like the terrorist groups would chose to fire Qassams on Tisha B’Av because people are out at the cemetery and also because of the significance of the day. Therefore I stayed home.”
“When we read Eichah, the Book of Lamentations, and we remember all our sufferings and tragedies throughout the year, I think how Hamas and those terrorist groups who hate us, aim to do the same — to bring us more tragedy and suffering,” she added. “We feel here in Sderot, that on the other side in Gaza, everything is boiling, that Hamas is awaiting the right opportunity to strike again. We try to remain positive, but they will not let us rest in Gaza.”
Indeed, the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel has been violated over 22 times (by other Palestinian groups firing mortars and Qassams) since the “lull” began June 19, 2008.
