After Eilat Terror Attacks, Terrorists Fire Rockets At Israel

On a day when Israelis mourn the loss of eight Israelis killed when terrorists opened fire on a bus and several vehicles near Eilat in Southern Israel, terrorists continue their attacks. 10 Israelis were injured in Ashdod when rockets hit the city within range of Gaza.

Fire from Gaza was renewed Friday afternoon when terrorists fired thee rockets at Be'er Tuvia and Eshkol regional councils. The rockets exploded in open spaces in the regions, and no injuries or damage were reported.

At around 4 pm, residents of Kiryat Malachi, Gedera, Gan Yavne, and other towns nearby reported hearing rocket alerts followed by explosions.

About an hour later a Qassam rocket was fired from Gaza and exploded in Eshkol Regional Council. No injuries or damage were reported.

Effie, a resident of Kiryat Malachi, told Ynet, "I was taking the trash out and there was an alarm. I heard a very loud boom. I realized a rocket must have fallen in the area."

The rockets followed two others, which were fired at Be'er Tuvia on Friday morning. The head of the regional council, Dror Shor, said he had noticed farmers in the area did not respond quickly enough to rocket alerts.

"It was fortunate the rockets fell in open spaces, but it could have ended differently," he said.

Terrorists pelted Israel with rockets throughout the day Friday. A rocket fired at Ashdod at dawn exploded in the courtyard of a haredi yeshiva and left 10 people injured. Magen David Adom emergency services said two men were seriously injured.

Yesterday's attacks were apparently carried out by the PRC, but the PRC is denying involvement. Israeli airstrikes killed the head of the PRC and other terrorists that were linked back to the terror attack, as well as the capture of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit:

The PRC members killed in the retaliatory IAF air strike included the head of the terror group Kamal Nirab, who the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) said had personally directed and planned the attack.

Another man killed in the strike was identified as Amas Hamed, commander of the PRC’s military wing and a resident of Rafah. The Shin Bet said that Hamed was involved in the abduction of IDF soldier Gilad Schalit in June 2006 and oversaw numerous attacks against Israel including suicide bombings and rocket attacks.

Two other known PRC terrorists, including one who was also involved in Schalit’s abduction, were also killed in the air strike.

“The terrorists were directly involved in the attacks along the Israeli-Egyptian border,” a security official said.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Thursday that the IDF would escalate its response to the attacks. Egypt had lost its grip over Sinai Peninsula and terrorist organizations were able to move around there freely, he said.

That last bit is perhaps the most serious part of the story. Israel and Egypt, while having a cold peace, at least managed to control the borders and limit terrorist movements, but since Mubarak was removed, terrorists have been able to more far more freely than before.

It appears that the PRC terrorists left Gaza to Sinai, and then recrossed into Israel to carry out the attacks on the vehicles.



Some of the terrorists wore Egyptian uniforms and it appears that at least a dozen terrorists were involved in the attacks.

Also, an apparent suicide bomber killed himself and several Egyptian soldiers near the Philadelphi corridor. The bomber is also linked to the PRC. That comes after two Egyptian soldiers were killed when Israeli airstrikes targeting terrorists caught the Egyptian security forces in the line of fire.

Meanwhile, it was six years ago this week that Israel unilaterally disengaged from Gaza and ended its military presence in the territory. Gazans, instead of using the opportunity to build a productive society, instead turned to Hamas and began carrying out incessant terror attacks that continue to this day.