The Southern District commander of the Homefront Command said on Thursday night that the religious public within the known rocket range of Gaza terrorists should pray in shelters or synagogues equipped with shelters. Speaking at a news conference with Ashkelon Mayor Benny Vaknin, Colonel Yitzchak Eitan noted the importance of prayer but added, "during times of emergency, one must exercise thought."

Mayor Vaknin noted that many shelters around the country are already being used as synagogues.