4 Kassams, 11 mortar shells fired at South from Gaza

April 8, 2011

By JPOST.COM STAFF

04/08/2011 17:42

Iron Dome intercepts 3 rockets headed for Ashkelon; 22 mortars fired in total

since dawn; Palestinians say IDF Gaza strikes leave 5 dead, including 2 Hamas

men and mother along with her child.

Rocket and mortar shell fire from the Gaza Strip continued on Friday evening as

four Kassam rockets were launched towards Ashkelon.

The IDF confirmed that the Iron Dome counter-rocket defense system intercepted

three of the rockets and the fourth rocket exploded in the industrial area of

southern Ashkelon.

Less than hour later, three mortar shells landed in the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional

Council. Earlier in the afternoon, five mortar shells landed landed south of

Ashkelon and three in the Eshkol Regional Council. All landed in open areas,

causing no casualties or damage.

Palestinian sources reported that IDF strikes in Gaza earlier on Friday

afternoon left one woman, her daughter, and a third man dead in a village near

Khan Younis. Two Hamas members were also reportedly killed during the strikes.

Since Thursday night, ten Palestinians were killed in various IDF attacks on

terror cells throughout Gaza.

The IDF said that in response to rocket fire from deep inside a residential area

in southern Gaza, IAF air craft struck two terror cells. According to to the

Palestinian media source, an Israeli aircraft struck a group of civilians.

Since Friday morning, nineteen mortar shells in total exploded across southern

Israel. One mortar exploded in a chicken coop in the Eshkol Regional Council.

The explosions occurred in the afternoon hours, and schools held students from

returning to their homes until the attacks passed. The explosions caused no

casualties.

Earlier on Friday, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said that Thursday's school

bus attack " crossed the line, " and adding that " the IDF acted immediately last

night and would continue to act with determination. "

Speaking from a meeting with the Czech president, Netanyahu commented that

" whoever tries to hurt and murder children: the blood is on his hands. "

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