An apartment building in Ashkelon sustained a direct hit in a Grad rocket attack from Gaza at around 10:00 a.m. Wednesday morning. Two rockets were launched in the attack; the second missile landed in an open area elsewhere in the city. Two women suffered minor shrapnel wounds and seven other people were treated for severe emotional trauma before being evacuated to Barzilai Medical Center.
A mortar shell also struck the Sdot Negev Kibbutz at about the same time, igniting a fire. No one was injured, and firefighters raced to the scene to contain the blaze.
Gaza terrorists resumed firing the rockets after a 12-hour period of quiet while Israel was considering a United Nations ceasefire proposal.
A few minutes before 9:00 a.m. terrorists fired a barrage of two long-range Grad rockets at the port city of Ashdod. Both exploded in open areas around the city. One man was lightly injured, according to local reports.
Four short-range Kassam rockets were also fired at the Eshkol and Sha'ar HaNegev regions. No one was hurt and no damage was reported in any of the attacks.
Soldier Killed
St.-Sgt. Alexander Mishbitzki, 21, from Be'er Sheva, was killed, and four soldiers were lightly wounded, in a clash Tuesday morning with terrorists in northern Gaza City. He was the seventh military casualty of the war in Gaza; three civilians have also been killed.
Government Meeting
The Security Cabinet is meeting to discuss the progress of Operation Cast Lead and the current developments in the region and abroad. A decision will be reached later in the day as to whether and how to move ahead with military activities in Gaza, said government officials.