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Terrorists in Gaza fired five Kassam at Jewish towns in the western Negev Sunday morning. One landed near a school in Sderot, one hit a nearby empty house and a third rocket landed at the entrance to the city. Several people suffered from shock and were treated by Magen David Adom paramedics at the scene.

At least six rockets hit the city over the Sabbath; close to 20 rockets and mortar shells were fired at the western Negev area, causing injuries and damage.

Residents Forced to Return?

Dozens of Sderot residents put up in hotels across Israel were surprised on Saturday night by letters informing them that they would have to leave their rooms by Sunday morning. The residents were given a free vacation from their rocket-pocked homes by Russian-Israeli billionaire Arcadi Gaydamak, and were under the impression they would be allowed to stay in the hotels until after the Shavuot festival, which begins Tuesday evening.

Officials explained to the Maariv daily newspaper that the letters were issued since there are 800 other families waiting for vacations and 200 waiting to be evacuated from the city.

Residents expressed fear about returning home to Sderot, explaining that several rockets had fallen during their absence. Some said that rockets had landed near their homes. “We’re not going back until there’s quiet and our children’s lives aren’t in danger,” one mother told Maariv.

Sderot Wants Declaration of Emergency

The Sderot municipality said it would ask the government to declare a state of emergency in the city and surrounding towns Sunday. The decision was made in a meeting on Saturday between Sderot Mayor Eli Moyal, city officials, and security officials.

Sources in the government said that Sderot and other towns in the western Negev could be granted the sub-emergency status of border towns near a combat zone, the same status granted to cities along the border with Lebanon. The new status would affect government aid to the area, and could grant residents various financial incentives.

Since last Tuesday (May 15), over 125 Kassam rockets have been launched at the western Negev - 40 over the weekend. 10 people were lightly wounded in the weekend attacks - seven suffered from shock.

Bereaved Father Helps Sderot

Shomron resident Boaz Shabo, who lost his wife and three of his children in a terrorist attack in the Shomron town of Itamar in 2002, has decided to spend his days in Sderot helping the embattled community face dozens of rocket attacks.

Shabo explained that his volunteer service helps him to deal with his grief, and that his children support his efforts. He also volunteered in the north during the Second Lebanon War, and says he goes wherever his help is most needed.

Shabo has been a volunteer paramedic with Magen David Adom for many years. He joins MDA crews in responding to rocket attacks and treating wounded at the sites. When the other paramedics leave, Shabo remains, in case wounded people suffering from shock have hidden near the scene of the attack, as has happened in some terrorist bombings.