The IDF’s Homefront Command on Thursday morning renewed the ban on gatherings of over 500 people in southern areas in response to the escalation in rocket attacks into that area.

The Ashkelon Ministry of the Interior office is closed on Thursday morning due to the escalation in rocket fire in that city, seeking to prevent the gathering of large numbers of people.

The infant injured in the Wednesday night rocket attack was released from Barzilai Hospital on Thursday morning. It appears he was injured by glass shards and not rocket shrapnel as was reported immediately following the attack.

MK Alex Miller, head of Knesset Education Committee: “It is totally unacceptable that a week before the start of the new school year thousands of school buildings lack proper fortification [against rocket attacks] and therefore, the lives of students are in jeopardy. We must stop the inter-ministerial ping pong and immediately allocate NIS 90 million towards fortifying the buildings”.

A fire truck on an emergency response was attacked by Arab teens throwing rocks near Jasar el-Zarka. A fireman fired his weapon in the air after evaluating the danger level against him. Galilee police arrested two teens and questioned the fireman who discharged his weapon. There were no injuries reported.

25 rockets were fired into southern Israel during the night and early morning hours.

In response to the escalation in rocket attacks in southern Israel, the hotline assistance line for area residents continues to operate. The toll-free number is 1-800-363-363.

Ashkelon Mayor Benny Vaknin announced that if the city does not receive an emergency allocation of NIS 20 million, to purchase prefab concrete shelters for city schools, he will not permit the schools to open if the current situation continues. IDF Homefront Command officials state that many of the current school buildings are “death traps” in the event of a rocket impact.

12:28: An Egged bus traveling between Adam and Hizme (road to and from the Shomron) was bombarded with rocks thrown by Arabs. No injuries were reported. The buses’ windshield was damaged.

13:00: The Israeli flag removed from the Israeli Embassy complex in Cairo during a protest has yet to be returned. The attorney for the youth who removed the flag during a violent protest called on Egyptian authorities to provide protection for his client, fearing “Israeli retaliation”.

13:15: The dollar continues to climb against the New Israeli Shekel, trading Thursday morning at NIS 3.60/$1.

Three Arab Members of Knesset on Thursday morning met with representatives of 13 African nations, seeking support for the PA’s planned unilateral declaration of statehood in September. The event was hosted in the S. African Embassy in Tel Aviv.

13:35: Hamas sources report 6 dead in Gaza as a result of IAF strikes during the night.

13:37: Red Warning alert signals three rockets fired into southern Israel. Rockets landed in Shar HaNegev Regional Council. No injuries reported. (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)