As reported earlier, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is meeting with his security chiefs at this hour, as Red Alert sirens continue to sound throughout the Gaza border communities. Among those present are Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-General Gadi Eizenkott, and the director of the Shin Bet.

For a first time in this round of fighting, sirens sounded a short time ago in Ashkelon. Channel 12 News reports a home that is not occupied was hit by a rocket. There are reports of damage. B’chasdei Hashem there are no reports of injuries in the latest round of rocket fir.

In light of the situation in the south, NATAL, Israel Trauma & Resilience Center, has activated its trauma victims hotline for southern area residents and all others in need of assistance as a result of the renewed warfare with Gaza. The number to call is 1-800-363-363.

In a directly related matter, the IDF has called up reserve duty personnel to assist in operating the Iron Dome and other defense systems as additional batteries have been placed in operation due to the escalation in rocket fire from Gaza.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem/Photo Credit: אריאל חרמוני, משרד הביטחון via חדשות רוטר)