A Kassam rocket fired from Gaza towards pre-1967 Israel Wednesday morning landed in an army base, wounding 12 soldiers. One was listed in moderate-to-serious condition, another soldier is being treated for moderate wounds, and the others were hurt lightly. All were taken to hospitals in Ashkelon and Be'er Sheva.
Earlier this morning, a Palestinian terrorist was shot and killed as he fired and threw grenades at soldiers at the Erez Industrial Zone. In addition, two Kassam rockets were fired at Sderot, two shells were fired at northern Gaza, and other shells were fired at other locations in Jewish Gaza. Hamas says it will avenge the deaths yesterday of teenagers killed during an Israeli thwarting of a Kassam attack.
The terror attack in Erez was well-planned. A terrorist planted a bomb alongside the wall of the checkpoint's passageway, and blew a large hole therein. He then passed through it to the Israeli side, firing and throwing grenades at Israeli soldiers all the while. An IDF force responded quickly, firing at the terrorist and killing him. No Israelis were wounded. Three PA policemen were hurt in the exchange of fire, including one in serious condition. Israeli medical teams treated them.
The attack was another example of PA taking advantage of Israel's humanitarian gestures. In order to allow Arabs of Gaza to make a pilgrimage to Mecca, Israel agreed to assume the responsibility for security arrangements, and opened an extra checkpoint in northern Gaza. The would-be pilgrims undergo a security check at Erez, and are then transported to the Philadelphi Route in southern Gaza, from where they are permitted to enter Egypt. Today's terrorist took advantage of the arrangements to sneak into the line of pilgrims, nearly murdering several Israelis before he was himself killed.
Islamic Jihad and the Al-Aqsa Brigades assumed joint responsibility for the attack.
The IDF announced today that Palestinian terrorists often perpetrate attacks at sites such as Erez that contribute greatly to the welfare of the local Arab population - all in order to sabotage co-existence between Israelis and Arabs. The army also noted that by "striking at the Palestinians’ ability to earn a living, the terrorist organizations attempt to present Israel as responsible for [their] suffering."
In over 15 Palestinian terror attacks carried out at Erez alone in the past four years, 12 Israelis were killed, including 11 soldiers and Border Guard policemen.
This morning's Kassam rockets towards the western Negev landed near Sapir College in Sderot and near Kibbutz Gevim, causing some damage but no casualties. The two shells fired at a Jewish community in northern Gaza caused minor damage. Other shells - at Tel Katifa in southern Gaza, and elsewhere - caused no damage.
Earlier this morning, a Palestinian terrorist was shot and killed as he fired and threw grenades at soldiers at the Erez Industrial Zone. In addition, two Kassam rockets were fired at Sderot, two shells were fired at northern Gaza, and other shells were fired at other locations in Jewish Gaza. Hamas says it will avenge the deaths yesterday of teenagers killed during an Israeli thwarting of a Kassam attack.
The terror attack in Erez was well-planned. A terrorist planted a bomb alongside the wall of the checkpoint's passageway, and blew a large hole therein. He then passed through it to the Israeli side, firing and throwing grenades at Israeli soldiers all the while. An IDF force responded quickly, firing at the terrorist and killing him. No Israelis were wounded. Three PA policemen were hurt in the exchange of fire, including one in serious condition. Israeli medical teams treated them.
A Kassam rocket that hit
The attack was another example of PA taking advantage of Israel's humanitarian gestures. In order to allow Arabs of Gaza to make a pilgrimage to Mecca, Israel agreed to assume the responsibility for security arrangements, and opened an extra checkpoint in northern Gaza. The would-be pilgrims undergo a security check at Erez, and are then transported to the Philadelphi Route in southern Gaza, from where they are permitted to enter Egypt. Today's terrorist took advantage of the arrangements to sneak into the line of pilgrims, nearly murdering several Israelis before he was himself killed.
Islamic Jihad and the Al-Aqsa Brigades assumed joint responsibility for the attack.
The IDF announced today that Palestinian terrorists often perpetrate attacks at sites such as Erez that contribute greatly to the welfare of the local Arab population - all in order to sabotage co-existence between Israelis and Arabs. The army also noted that by "striking at the Palestinians’ ability to earn a living, the terrorist organizations attempt to present Israel as responsible for [their] suffering."
In over 15 Palestinian terror attacks carried out at Erez alone in the past four years, 12 Israelis were killed, including 11 soldiers and Border Guard policemen.
This morning's Kassam rockets towards the western Negev landed near Sapir College in Sderot and near Kibbutz Gevim, causing some damage but no casualties. The two shells fired at a Jewish community in northern Gaza caused minor damage. Other shells - at Tel Katifa in southern Gaza, and elsewhere - caused no damage.