For first time since Egypt riots began, rockets fired from Gaza towards south Israel; four suffer shock. ‘We’re terrified; we have no shelters,’ resident says
Tensions in Egypt appear to be spreading to Gaza: Grad rockets fired from the Hamas-ruled territory Monday night landed near the southern Israeli cities of Ofakim and Netivot.
During the rocket attack on Netivot- the first attack on Israel since the against Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak began a week ago – four people suffered from shock, and damage was caused to a road and a parked car.
The rocket landed near a residential neighborhood.
Another Grad hit the Ofakim area a few minutes later, but there were no reports of injury or damage.
Qassam attack (Archive photo)
“It was terrifying,” an Ofakim resident said. “We heard a boom – like a nuclear bomb. We thought it was thunder; there was smoke and explosions. We’re dying of fear that another wave of Grads and Qassams will begin. We have no shelters or secure rooms, and the rocket fell about 10 meters (33 feet) from the houses.”
Last week two Qassams were fired from Gaza. One rocket landed in an open area in the western Negev, while the other apparently landed in an open area in Gaza. There were no reports of injury or damage.
Earlier this month Egypt warned Hamas that the IDF may launch an offensive if the rocket attacks on Israel are not halted, as was the case in
operation Cast Lead.
Ilana Curiel and Shmulik Hadad contributed to the report
