Emanuele Giaufret
Emanuele GiaufretYoni Kempinski

The European Union ambassador to Israel, Emanuele Giaufret, condemned the barrage of rocket fire on Israel from the Gaza Strip Tuesday morning, and called for a rapid “de-escalation” between Israel and the Hamas-ruled coastal enclave.

“Extremely concerned about evolving security situation, with multiple rockets launched this morning. A rapid de-escalation is needed, indiscriminate rocket fire is unacceptable. Need to protect all civilians,” tweeted Giaufret.

The European Union later released a statement condemning the rocket attacks, and calling for an "end to these continuing cycles of violence."

"This morning, Israel conducted an operation inside Gaza targeting a senior leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. In response, rockets were fired from Gaza on southern and central Israel."

"The firing of rockets on civilian populations is totally unacceptable and must immediately stop. A rapid and complete de-escalation is now necessary to safeguard the lives and security of Palestinian and Israeli civilians. The European Union fully supports the efforts of Egypt in this regard. As the EU has consistently reiterated, only a political solution can put an end to these continuing cycles of violence."

Terrorists operating out of the Gaza Strip fired dozens of rockets at Israel beginning at about 6:00 a.m. Tuesday morning, after Israel eliminated a senior Islamic Jihad terrorist in Gaza City.

More than 50 rockets were fired at Israel Tuesday morning, while Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system fired approximately 20 missiles at incoming rockets.

Three Israelis were reported injured as a result of the rocket attacks, including two suffering from shock, and a third injured while running to a bomb shelter.

A home in southern Israel was struck by a rocket, which scored a direct hit on the building.

Sirens were heard as far north as Tel Aviv, where Iron Dome interceptor missiles were spotted overhead.