BICOM

At least 20 rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip on civilian communities in southern Israel yesterday. A number of the rockets came down near populated areas; one near Ofakim, three in the Beersheva area and one south of Ashkelon, according to Israeli media reports. Two rockets also landed near Sderot. A 9-month-old baby sustained light wounds after being hit by glass splinters. This took place after a rocket exploded near a house in the area of Ashkelon, shattering windows. The child later received treatment at the Barzilai Medical Center. The Islamic Jihad organisation claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying that they were a response to the killing by Israel of Ismael al-Asmar, a senior operative in the movement. Israeli security officials quoted in the media said that al-Asmar was responsible for the transfer of funds used in the Eilat terrorist attack, and had been planning to carry out another attack in the Sinai area.

Overnight, Israel responded to the rocket attacks. Israeli defence aircrafts targeted a weapons storage facility in northern Gaza, a smuggling tunnel and additional weapons storage site in the southern part of the Strip. A statement later released by the IDF Spokesmans’ Office said that ‘direct hits’ were obtained on all targets. Associated Press reported two deaths and twenty injuries as a result of the airstrikes on Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday convened the Security Cabinet to discuss the situation in the south and Israel’s response to the growing threat of terror attacks from Sinai. Meanwhile, Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Ron Prosor sent a letter of complaint to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, over the Security Council’s failure to condemn the terror attacks.

Rocket fire emanating from Gaza looks set to continue as the military wing of the Islamic Jihad organisation issued a statement vowing revenge for the Israeli airstrikes.