Gaza militants fire long-range Grad rocket into western Negev
Firing comes amid growing violence in Gaza, as Israeli forces assassinated 2 Army of Islam Gaza militant leaders in two separate occasions in recent weeks; no casualties reported.
By Haaretz ServiceGaza militants fired a long-range Grad rocket into the western Negev early Friday, Army Radio reported, following a night-long barrage of Qassam rockets fired from the coastal enclave.
 |
A Grad-type Katyusha rocket |
| Photo by: Albert Denkberg |
No injuries or damages were reported.
The rocket exploded north of the Israeli town of Ofakim, with security forces struggling to pinpoint the exact location due to heavy morning fog.
The launch joined at least two earlier Qassam-rocket firings into western Negev, with no injuries or damages being reported; a third Qassam launch was reported a few hours following the firing of the Grad-type Katyusha.
The attacks comes amid growing violence in Gaza, as Israeli forces struck Army of Islam militant leaders in two separate occasions in recent weeks.
The firing of the Russian-invented Grad-type Katyusha, which has a longer range than the more makeshift Qassam rocket that has been fired by the thousands at Negev towns and villages, comes amid two recent hits of top Gaza militants by Israeli forces.
Mohammed Nimnim and Islam Yassin, killed in Israel Defense Forces air strikes on November 3 and 17, were Gazan leaders of the Army of Islam, a Palestinian Islamist group inspired by al-Qaida. Israel accused them of having planned to attack Israelis in the Egyptian Sinai.
On Thursday, a recording released by declared Al-Qaida affiliates warned the "aggressor Jews" they will not be safe from rockets and other attacks until they "leave the land of Palestine" in wake of recent attacks.
The recording, which was quoted on Army Radio, ends by invoking "al Quds", Arabic for Jerusalem. The speaker's reference to rockets suggests links with Palestinians in Gaza, where this has been a favorite mode of attack against Israel.
Why Facebook Connect?
Comment on Haaretz.com articles with your Facebook login, and share your thoughts on your own wall.
- Latest
- Most Viewed
- Most Rated
- Open all
Israel assassinates militants in gaza through missiles, they respond by sending their unsophisticated missiles that land in the desert 99% of the time, then Israel says: Oh look we left Gaza and they just want to kill us, we need to defend ourselves. The media will jump along. Next thing you know another 1000 people are massacred in Gaza and they, the victims, are blamed for their own deaths. The clock is ticking. Israel has become too predictable in the eyes of most of the world and still think they are fooling everyone!
It's funny when Israel kills a member of a fringe militant group that they suddenly become "leaders". Everyone in Gaza knows that Islam Yasin and his borther Mohammed were no leaders at all. Islam worked for the PA police in the past, and was known for stealing while on duty: weapons, construction material. His brother only happened to be driving the car that was hit, and had nothing to dow ith Army of Islam. I t hought Israel had better access to information on Gaza.
Given the depraved indifference of BOTH SIDES to the lives of civilians, nothing done in retaliation will surprise me one bit.
Unfortunitely, radical muslims who have hyjacked their religion (cult) will continue to attack anyone who they deem enemies of their god. Worship of rocks and a moon god does not bode well for humanity when it becomes as radicalized as the peaceful and moderate muslims have allowed these idots to take their beliefs and turn them into justifications for murder of humanity.
stop killing gazans and they will not fire rockets, is that difficult to understand!
Arabs has always terrorized Israel. So you must be living in fantasyland.
Very simple to prove it
Ofakim is 23 kilometres from Gaza as opposed to Sderot at 3 kilometres. Worrying development for everybody
The Israelis murder two Palestinians and then complain about a couple of rockets that land in the middle of nowhwere? A nightlong barrage? Who are you trying kid?
Maybe it's time for our soldiers to see how well the MLRS(Multi Launched Rocket System) operates? Perhaps on a few selected targets in Gaza?
.... no "proportions" will be used in responding to their blind attacks on civilians ...
Must be time to derail peace talks again.
IDF wants to go back in so hard! This is a low key response to the 'targeted killings' being carried out by Israel during peace talks because ISrael fears these talks are the real deal, the end game. Naturally Israel doesn't want this. As for the IDF re-entering Gaza, do that and carry out the same atrocities as you did during cast lead and you say goodbye to international support, vetoes, toys and free money. Just saying...
If Israel put those idiots on notice that the Dome of the Rock would be destroyed when their next barrage was launched it would be interesting to see who got excited and who couldn't care less!
A wise strategy that will surely bring peace to the world, John. An alternative approach would be for Israel to leave all the occupied territories, stop killing Palestinians and make peace with her neighbours. Would require courage and statesmanship, though.