BICOM

Terrorists in Gaza continued to fire rockets at southern Israel, prompting a response from the Israel Air Force, while Israel’s envoy appealed to the United Nations (UN) to persuade a Swedish ship to abandon its attempt to reach Gaza.

After two days of relative quiet, two rockets were fired by terrorists in Gaza into southern Israel on Tuesday night.  One landed near a home close to the city of Ashkelon, causing some damage, while two residents were treated for shock. The second rocket landed in an open field in the Lachish region. The IDF Spokesman’s Unit commented, “The IDF will not tolerate any attempt to harm citizens and soldiers of the State of Israel, and will continue to act against any terror organization attacking Israel.”

Israel’s air force responded almost immediately in the early hours of this morning. An Israeli army statement said, “Aircraft targeted a terror activity site in the northern Gaza Strip. A direct hit was confirmed…The site was targeted in response to the rocket fire at southern Israel.”

Meanwhile, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Ron Prosor yesterday called on the international body to prevent a Swedish ship carrying pro-Palestinian activists from sailing to Gaza. Since 2006, Israel has instituted a maritime blockade of Gaza, to prevent weapons from reaching terrorists in the Gaza Strip. Last year, Israel’s navy intercepted a cargo ship including a large consignment of weapons destined for Gaza.

Prosor said in a letter, “I call on the Secretary-General, the Security Council, and all responsible members of the international community to take immediate action to end this provocation.”

Stressing the sole security imperative of the blockade, Prosor continued, “Israel’s naval blockade is a necessary and legitimate security measure…There is no need for this flotilla. There is not a single civilian good that cannot enter Gaza.”