News Brief20:55 PM

(IsraelNN.com) Approximately 2,500 of Sderot’s 20,000 residents left the city temporarily on Thursday due to ongoing rocket attacks. 800 were evacuated by the government, and will stay in Soldiers’ Association hostels in Netanya.

The government evacuation ended in the afternoon, apparently due to a lack of space in the hostels. Many reacted angrily to news that the evacuation was over, and dozens burst into the office of Mayor Eli Moyal in protest. Fellowship organization representatives were present, and promised to sponsor weekend vacations for 350 people.

1,600 residents were evacuated by Russian-Israeli billionaire Arcadi Gaydamak, who will pay for them to stay in hotels in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Be’er Sheva. Thousands more left independently.