Eshkol Regional Council

IDF Chief of Staff:

'We must defeat Hamas, we are preparing to return to battle'

IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir met with local leaders in the Gaza envelope and pledged: 'The hostages are our top priority.'

Over 65% turnout:

In Gaza-border communities, incumbents win new terms

Sderot Mayor and two other incumbents win additional terms, runoffs likely in Sha'ar Hanegev.

Farm in southern Israel loses hundreds of tons of produce

Farmers need funds to repair infrastructure, pay workers, purchase pesticides, remove diseased crops, and plant again from the start.

Eshkol region governor: 'The state doesn't yet understand'

Gadi Yarkoni insists the state is not doing enough to aid communities attacked by Hamas.

Eshkol governor demands: 'IDF must finish the job'

Gadi Yarkoni, head of the Eshkol Regional Council, says the end must be that no Palestinian Arab populations are near his region.

Rocket hits chicken coop in southern Israel

Chicken coop sustains heavy damage due to Gaza rocket attack.

Incendiary balloon causes fire in southern Israel

Fire breaks out in Eshkol Regional Council from incendiary balloon launched from the Gaza Strip.

Gaza terrorists fire 36 rockets toward southern Israel

Siren sounded in Kibbutz Kissufim, near the border with Gaza. 36 rockets fired, 6 of them intercepted by Iron Dome.

Three mortar shells fired from Gaza

Three mortar shells fired from Gaza toward the Eshkol region, one of them intercepted by Iron Dome.

Rocket fired at southern Israel, IDF attacks in Gaza

Rocket fired from Gaza explodes in open area in Eshkol Regional Council. IDF attacks Hamas military post.

Fire breaks out in Eshkol-region communtiy

Incendiary balloon causes fire in community near Gaza. Eshkol council head: 'Containment policy brings balloon terror to our doors.'

Rocket fired at Israel despite cease-fire claims

Rocket explodes near community in Eshkol Regional Council shortly after IDF removes restrictions on movement in Gaza periphery.

Gaza rocket explodes in southern Israel

Rocket from Gaza explodes in open area in Eshkol Regional Council. No injuries or damages reported.

'In the Gaza envelope they do not whine'

Minister Uri Ariel visits Eshkol Regional Council, discusses importance of strengthening the civilian home front.

'Let their leaders be afraid to walk down the street'

Eshkol Council head disappointed by lack of response, 'We should have taken advantage of Be'er Sheva incident to restore deterrence.'

False alarm in southern Israel

Siren heard around 3:30 a.m. in the Eshkol Regional Council. IDF confirms it was a false alarm.

Mortar shells explode in Eshkol region

Two mortar shells from Gaza explode in open area in the Eshkol Regional Council. No injuries or damages.

IDF opens fire on Hamas post after mortars land near Negev town

Terrorists in Gaza fire projectiles at Israeli towns in western Negev. IDF responds with tank fire on Hamas positions in Gaza.

Shaked visits Gaza area:

'Iron fist against kite launchers'

'Incendiary kite as serious as mortar shell. Kite in Gaza area like missile on Ashkelon' said Justice Minister.

Hamas rocket lands next to Israeli kindergarten

Rocket found next to kindergarten in southern Israel following overnight attacks. 'A matter of luck' that no one was hurt, says IDF.

Two rockets fired from Sinai at southern Israel

Sirens heard five times in southern Israel throughout the night. IDF says two rockets were fired from Sinai.

Rockets fired from Sinai towards southern Israel

Two rockets fired from Sinai Peninsula towards the Eshkol Regional Council, explode in open areas.

Rocket fired from Gaza; IDF retaliates

Rocket fired from Gaza explodes in open area in Eshkol. IDF attacks Hamas position in response.

IDF officer killed in car accident

Released for publication man killed in today's accident in Eshkol area is IDF officer. Notice given to family.

Man killed in Eshkol region traffic accident

Man, 20s, trapped in van he was driving and found dead; MDA teams forced to declare death.

Rocket explodes in Eshkol Region

Rocket launched from Sinai explodes in Eshkol Region greenhouse, causing damage.

ISIS claims rocket fire on southern Israel

ISIS says it fired two rockets on the Eshkol Regional Council on Monday.

Gaza rocket explodes in southern Israel

Rocket fired by Gaza terrorists explodes in open area of Eshkol Regional Council. No physical injuries or damages.

Gaza mortar shells hit southern Israel

Two mortar shells fired from Gaza explode in the Eshkol Regional Council. No injuries or damages.

3 Palestinians cross Gaza fence under cover of fog

State of emergency declared in communities near Gaza this morning, after reports of three figures crossing fence. All three captured.

'IDF checked the noises, they aren't terror tunnels'

Regional head near Gaza says IDF checked his residents' complaints of hearing tunnel digging, but adds 'I didn't say there aren't tunnels.'

Ya'alon in the south: Terrorists better not test us

Defense Minister lights Hanukkah candles in Eshkol, promises to upgrade the region's defensive capabilities.

Rocket fired from Gaza hits Eshkol region

Gaza terrorists launch early morning rocket attack on Israel, rocket siren not triggered so as not to panic residents.

Gaza Rocket Explodes in Eshkol Region

Rocket fired by Gaza terrorists explodes in an open area of the Eshkol Regional Council. No injuries or damages reported.

'Each Time a Rocket Falls, We Are Traumatized'

Gadi Yarkoni, head of the Eshkol Regional Council, says ongoing rocket fire is deeply unsettling to Negev residents.

Third Exploded Rocket Found in Eshkol Region

Rocket found exploded in open area on Saturday believed to have been part of barrage fired by ISIS affiliate Sinai Province in Egypt.

Wounded Badly in Protective Edge, Gadi Yarkoni Returns to Work

Gadi Yarkoni, who lost both of his legs in a mortar blast on last day of the operation, will run for Mayor of the Eshkol Regional Council.

Breach by Terrorists From Gaza With Grenades

Two terrorists sneak into Eshkol Regional Council where they are surrounded and arrested.

Ceasefire?

Gaza Rocket Lands Outside of Eshkol Town

In breach of truce, rocket hits outside town a day after Hamas holds its largest military exercise since operation protective edge.

IDF Forces Shoot Dead Suspected Infiltrator at Gaza Border

One Palestinian dead, another wounded from misfired IDF warning shots; twelve infiltration attempts from Gaza thus far this month.

Gaza Rocket Apparently Strikes Gaza

'Color red' sirens sounded in Eskhol region where a rocket was shot down last Friday - apparently it fell short in Gaza this time.

'Gaza War Number Four is Just a Matter of Time'

Eshkol Regional head says rocket Friday is sign of coming rockets on Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, as effects of operation slip away.

Gaza Infiltrator Arrested 500 Meters Inside Israel

Man picked up breaking through the border in Eshkol Regional Council area, after similar events foiled last month.

Gaza War Affected Matriculation Scores

Significant decrease in passing grades near Gaza Belt - but education officials note that students' moral compass is high.

Rocket 'False Alarm' in South for 2nd Time in Two Days

Another false rocket alarm, or another cover-up? IDF claims malfunction again, after officer charges cover-up on Hamas rockets.

Breaking News

IDF: Mortar Shell Fired From Gaza Hits Israel

IDF confirms first mortar attack since truce; Hamas denies responsibility, says it's dedicated to the ceasefire.

Eshkol Rocket Victim was Security Coordinator of Kibbutz

Ze'evik Etzion, 55, is one of the two people who were killed in a mortar attack on Kibbutz Nirim in the Eshkol region.

Gaza Belt Community Leaders Tell Residents Not to Return

'Maybe in Jerusalem there's a ceasefire, not here,' says head of Eshkol council; Ashkelon mayor calls ceasefire 'submission to terror.'

Breaking news

Gaza Barrage Kills One, Injures Six Others

One killed and two seriously wounded in strike on community in the Eshkol Regional Council amid reports of a ceasefire.

Rockets Hit Kindergarten, Wound One, in Southern Rocket Barrage

33-year-old man wounded by shrapnel as rocket fired from Gaza strikes Eshkol Region. Rocket hits kindergarten.

Gaza Rockets Damage Cars and Buildings in Southern Israel

Direct hit on home as rockets since ceasefire breach edge towards 100; volley on Eshkol region leaves damage, civilian suffering shock.

Gaza Terrorists Start Morning With Renewed Rocketfire

Total rockets since ceasefire breach edges towards 60 as Eshkol Region hit overnight; IDF hits 30 terror targets overnight.

IDF Admits False Alarm with Rocket Siren

Rocket sirens sound Thursday morning, hours after ceasefire extension - IDF clarifies they were sounded accidentally.

Public Urged to Pray for Seriously Wounded Soldier

Public asked to pray for Mordechai Yemin, soldier from Itamar who suffered head wound from mortar shells fired by Gaza terrorists.

Gaza Rockets Continue, Soldier Wounded by Shrapnel

After limited IAF airstrikes leave seven Hamas terrorists dead, rockets keep pouring in, causing injury and damage in south.

Six More Rockets Hit Southern Israel

At least six rockets explode in the Eshkol Regional Council, bringing Friday's total of rockets fired to more than 20.

Gaza Mortar Salvo Fired During Funeral of Teens

Mortar barrage hits Eshkol Regional Council even as three murdered teens laid to rest in Modi'in.

One Person Treated for Shock After Gaza Mortar Attack

Gaza terrorists fire two mortar shells at the Eshkol region, one hitting a building.

Gaza Rocket Explodes in Eshkol Region

Rocket fired by Gaza terrorists explodes in the Eshkol region. No physical injuries or damages reported.

Gaza Terrorists Launch Fifteen-Rocket Barrage

At least fifteen missiles pepper region around Gaza in continuing escalation; 'Israel's deterrence has dissipated.'