[EARLIER REPORTS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]
UPDATE 20:11: Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon orders the closure of Gaza crossings in response to renewed warfare.
Hamas released a statement holding Israel responsible for an escalation of warfare between Gaza and Israel.
UPDATE 20:03: At present, authorities announce regular school in southern Israel on Thursday. Regarding Purim and parties, a decision is pending at this time and it will depend on events tomorrow.
UPDATE 19:55: The Islamic Jihad announces this is the beginning of Operating “Breaking the Silence”, claiming to have fired over 90 rockets.
UPDATE 19:51: Tens of IDF tanks are taking up position along the Gaza border, perhaps preparing for entry into the Hamas controlled area.
UPDATE 19:48: The IDF has informed southern residents that they may leave shelters but they are instructed to remain within running distance.
UPDATE 19:12: Islamic Jihad claiming 90 Rockets have been fired towards southern Israel. They have also released a statement: “till now we only fired short distance rockets from now we’ll use the long range.
UPDATE 19:02: IDF artillery and tank fire directed at terror targets in northern and southern Gaza. Sirens continue sounding in the Eshkol Regional Council at this time. Senior military commanders are meeting to evaluate the renewed warfare, the heaviest rocket fire since Operation Pillar of Defense.
All residents in communities in the 40km (25 miles) range from Gaza are instructed to remain in shelters and safe rooms.
The heavy winter storm is preventing an aerial response from the IAF. Strong winds accompany thundershowers and lightening.
UPDATE 18:15: From the IDF Homefront Command;
What kinds of rockets are there?
· There are 107 mm and 122 mm rockets, both of which have a range of about 20 Km.
· Long-range rockets of the Fager 3 type, made in Iran, with a range of about 43 Km
· Fager 5 rockets, made in Iran, with a range of about 75 Km
· Rockets made in Syria, with a range of about 70 Km
· Zilzal long-range rockets, made in Iran, with a range of about 200 Km.
UPDATE 18:13: Once again sirens are sounding in the Eshkol Regional Council communities.
UPDATE Update 18:10: Channel 2 TV News reports that an Islamic Jihad commander in Gaza has announced the ceasefire with Israel is over.
UPDATE 18:03: Sirens sounding once again in the Eshkol Regional Council.
UPDATE 18:00: IDF SPOKESMAN: Since the start of 2014, over 60 rockets have been fired from Gaza, including over 20 today.
Speaking from Knesset, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu announced it appears the rocket fire is in retaliation for soldiers eliminating three terrorists in Gaza on Tuesday, 9 Adar II.
Situation Update from Galei Tzahal (Army Radio):
· At least 45 rockets have been fired since 17:00.
· Two rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome.
· One rocket landed in Sderot and a second in a yishuv in the Eshkol Regional Council district.
· A 54-year-old woman fell running for cover during a siren. She fractured her pelvis and was transported to Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon.
· MDA, Israel Police, IDF, and other agencies involved in an assessment to determine what will occur following renewed warfare.
· Gaza sources reported IAF retaliation is underway.
UPDATE 17:47: The Iron Dome system has intercepted a rocket over Ashkelon. It appears that over forty rockets have been fired since the renewed warfare began earlier this evening.
An emergency number has been activated for southern area residents. That number is 08-6806450.
Once again, we are witnessing Yad Hashem BA”H as there are no reports of loss of life or injuries at this time.
UPDATE 17:40: Sirens are sounding once again, this time in Sufah, Chulit, Nir Yitzchak, Nachal Ohz, Alumim and surrounding area communities.
UPDATE: 17:33: EMS personnel are treating an unspecified number of hysteria patients after what appears to have been over 30 rockets pounded southern communities in the past hour.
The IAF has taken to the skies and attacking terrorists in Gaza. Gaza sources are reporting explosions in Khan Yunis.
B’chasdei Hashem so far there are no reports of loss of life or physical injuries.
UPDATE 17:26: Sirens in Beersheva a false alarm. Property damage reported in Sderot. It appears that 27 rockets and mortar shells were fired in the past hour. The Iron Dome intercepted three rockets, some heading to Netivot. The Islamic Jihad terror organization is claiming responsibility.
UPDATE – 17:20: Shar HaNegev – reports red alert in the area communities. Explosions heard and residents are remaining in fortified rooms and shelters.
As this is being written, sirens are sounding in Beersheva too. The IDF has instructed all residents in all communities within 40km (24 miles) of Gaza to remain in safe rooms and shelters.
IDF officials have detected rockets are being launched from at least three different locations in Gaza, including Beit Hanoun. IAF fighter jets and assault helicopters have taken to the skies.
FIRST REPORT 17:00IL: It is being confirmed that a minimum of 20 rockets have been fired. Sirens sounded in many areas including Sderot, Kfar Maimon, Netivot, Kfar Aza, the S’dot Negev Regional Council communities, Kibbutz Saad, Kibbutz Nachal Ohz, Alumim, Sharsheret, Tekuma, and others. Police and EMS responders are searching for impact locations. YWN-ISRAEL has learned that while some rockets landed in Gaza B”H, at least one has landed inside a community.
The IDF instructs all residents to remain in safe rooms and shelters. It should be pointed out that at this time many children waiting at bus stops waiting for transport home from school. The IDF has placed the entire area on alert and all residents are instructed to remains in shelters. The many school children heading home have taken cover in fortified bus shelters.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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27 Responses
Hope everyone realizes the arabs shooting the rockets don’t discriminate. They are aiming for the black velvets, Knit Kippahs, and the bare headed Jews. Very sad to say but It takes a bunch of arab lunatics to bring achdus amongst us.
what are the arab pigs upset about? that abutbul won beit shemes? or the idf draft bill?
or, here is another thought. lapid arranged this to show how important the army is, and how badly this draft bill ws needed.
don’t laugh. this haman harasha is capable of such behavior.
Should we not connect the dotted lines?
Law against Torah and rockets are flying, nothing stopping them. The Israeli mid sile defense is a joke, blocking 3 out of 27.
Everyone should say Tehillim. We need to cry out to our father to help us.
Reminder:
The draft bill was passed today.
Ferd,
Your ludicrously baseless accusations undermine any credibility you may have ever had. The article clearly says the rocket fire is in response to the IDF’s ‘elimination’ of 3 terrorists yesterday. Unless you believe Lapid orchestrated the strike to provoke the response to show how important the draft bill is…
Please let us know when the Charedim will be going to that area to setup mobile batei medrash.
Ferd, ah forget it. Ferd.
Y2R, I agree. But wait, the planes that are going on the offensive right now raining bombs on these little hamans running around in gaza are also probably useless, right? Take a hint from vashti Schwartz (vashti, really?) and run over there and set up shop, tough guy.
The Gov’t needs to immediately move Charedim to Sderot so that they can share in the burden of running in to shelters.
Do you think it is a coincidence that on this tragic day that they passed this law about the army that 60 rockets have been sent from GAZA to Israel and ppl have already been injured????
Wipe out the Arabs…
LET JOHN KERRY COME NOW AND MAKE PEICE…..WITH OBAMA WHO IS VACATIONING IN FLORIDA
The purpose of these rockets is to keep the secular israelis busy with other conflicts and not bother chareidim. If not for the arabs the secular israelis would have long ago destroyed the chareidi kehillahs.
Don’t you wish the IDF could have put an acceleration trigger on the warhead in those rockets they intercepted and let them through? That would be a real mechayeh. They would explode as soon as they were fired. But oy, what about the hospitals and schools they use for firing grounds???? I think I could learn to live with those consequences.
#7:
It is so obvious that it’s almost ludicrous to point it out, but… the unique power of Torah is that it doesn’t have to be “on location” in order for it to protect us.
And, if you are interested at all to know, when there was an operation on during bein hazmanim, most yeshivos did not break.
Most of you people need help , just pray and be qwite your no help to the situation
I heard that one of the balai musser pointed out that if suppose for a second avrohom avinu was successful in locating ten tzadikim and saved sodom, do u think the people in sodom would have valued them? Nah? Parasites, burdens on society, outsiders who keep to themselves. Bottom line, today’s vote is a terrible chillul hashem. Terrible.
Interesting how this is happening almost immediately after the Draft Law was passed in the Knesset. Perhaps Hashem is sending a message. Rabbonim before have said that if the government will try to draft the Bnei Torah, they, the state, will have to be prepared to fight more wars and battle because Torah is what is protecting and preventing this.
14, tell that to the Netziv.
I’m surprised that no one mentioned the significance that the weather is preventing the IAF response. We should all realize that without the help of HKBH, it little matters who is serving in the Army, and how much superior our equipment is, we are powerless. This should be foremost in every Jew’s mind, without regard to his/her hashgafa. Let us pray for achdut and the safety of all our brothers and sisters, especially those in the South, and those in uniform.
I heard there were 67 Rockets , one for every MK that voted against the draft.
#7 (vashti_schwartz) wrote: “Please let us know when the Charedim will be going to that area to setup mobile batei medrash.”
And you please let me know when the IDF will successfully stop rockets, or at least deal properly with rock throwers instead of running away…
hmmm its very interesting how many people are privy to HKBH’s plan. here I thought only He knew why things happen as mentioned by Rambam in Moreh but I guess every yutz online is just as good.
#7 (vashti_schwartz) – Don’t worry! My son is there right now on the front lines protecting you! His Yeshivah is within 5 minutes drive of Gaza and they are learning and davening hard to protect you. Oh, you don’t believe in the Koach of Kol Torah?! You’re looking for guns?!
הקול קול יעקוב, והידיים ידי עשיו
Who’s side are you on?!
Vashti – Just to repeat someone else’s words.
VASHTI – REALLY?????
Did your parents really name you “Vashti”??????
I’ve read through these comments, but don’t see any suggestions of chareidim offering economic and physical support to those on the frontlines of the rocket fire nor any chilonim suggesting that a capital tellihim wouldn’t hurt while the brave men and women of the IDF and air forces prepare to take out these terrorists. Perhaps if each side would take a time out from their usual hyperbole, accusations and slander of the other side of the debate and show a bit achdus, we would b’yh, get through this with no casualties.
To all the morons who seem to know that the rocket attacks are in direct correlation to the draft bill, please send me the next winning lottery numbers since you seem to know G-d’s plans and thoughts???
The gemarah says that if you have yissurim, you should investigate why, and if you don’t know why, it’s because of bittul Torah. Is it no coincidence that this happened right after the two bittul Torah rallies?
(See, all sides can play the game.)