(VIDEO IN EXTENDED ARTICLE)

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on held a high-level security consultation after a Hamas rocket slammed into the children’s bedroom in a Beersheva home at around 4:00AM on Wednesday. B’chasdei Hashem, no one was killed in the attack, which sent six persons to Beersheva’s Soroka Medical Center, all with what was described as light injuries.

Among participants were Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Deputy IDF Chief of Staff Major-General Aviv Kochavi, National Security Council Director Meir Ben-Shabbat, Shin Bet Director Nadav Argaman and senior security establishment officials. IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-General Gadi Eizenkott is on his way back to Israel from New York, where he cut his visit short in light of the escalation in attacks from Gaza. The meeting was held at the Gaza Division Headquarters.

Following the security assessment, the Prime Minister told the media, “I have just finished an assessment with the heads of the IDF and the security establishment senior leadership. Israel views with utmost gravity the attacks against it on the fence, on the area adjacent to the Gaza Strip, on Be’er Sheva – everywhere. I said, at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting, that if these attacks do not stop – we will stop them.

“I want to tell you today as well – Israel will take very strong action.”

PM Netanyahu toured the IDF Gaza Division command center where he met with the look-outs who, this morning, identified the launch cell that was stopped by the IDF, and expressed appreciation for the work and activity of the command center.

Following the tour, Mr. Netanyahu met with the leaders of local and regional councils, including S’dot Negev, Ashkelon Coast, Shar HaNegev, and Sderot Mayor Alon Davidi.

Prime Minister Netanyahu toured the IDF Gaza Division command center where he met with the look-outs who, this morning, identified the launch cell that was stopped by the IDF, and expressed appreciation for the work and activity of the command center. pic.twitter.com/oZdZbAu3Ny

— PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) October 17, 2018

Prime Minister Netanyahu: "I said, at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting, that if these attacks do not stop – we will stop them.
I want to tell you today as well – Israel will take very strong action." pic.twitter.com/JpfvcsDkcD

— PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) October 17, 2018

Meanwhile, Hamas announced that the head of Egyptian intelligence, Abbas Kamel, had called off a planned visit to Gaza on Thursday.

“We are sorry that minister Abbas Kamel has canceled his visit to Gaza and Ramallah,” Moussa Abu Marzouk, a top Hamas official, wrote on Twitter.

U.N. Mideast envoy Nickolay Mladenov said the situation was “particularly complicated” after the rocket attacks.

“Unfortunately, they fit a pattern of provocations that seek to bring Israel and Gaza into another deadly conflict and confrontation,” he said at a meeting with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin. “It is our responsibility to do everything possible to avoid that confrontation.”

He said steps need to be taken to avoid war, alleviate the humanitarian situation in Gaza and to bring the internationally backed Palestinian Authority, ousted by Hamas in 2007, back in control of Gaza.

“This is the only path forward and we need to make sure that in the next 48 hours we really see a de-escalation on the ground so that these efforts can continue,” he said.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem/ / AP)