Seven Kassams Since Yesterday; No One Hurt
16:20 Apr 20, '06 / 22 Nisan 5766
by Hillel Fendel
One rocket was fired as the holiday ended, and 5-6 today. Ashkelon businesses report that some suppliers don't want to come. The IDF fired over 2,000 shells towards Gaza over the holiday.
Terrorists from Hamas Authority-controlled Gaza continue to fire Kassam rockets, despite heavy Israeli shelling of the rocket launching sites. One of today's rockets landed in the Mediterranean Sea, another one in the area of Netiv HaAsarah's greenhouses just dozens of meters away from the northern Gaza border, and the others between Carmiya and Zikim, south of Ashkelon. A rocket landed last night near the Nachal Oz army base in the western Negev. No one was hurt in these attacks, and no damage was caused.
Palestinian terrorists also opened fire at Israeli workers near the Gaza border fence this morning; no one was hurt.
Residents of the western Negev city of Sderot, situated less than a kilometer from northeastern Gaza, say they are treated to the sounds of IDF shelling every five minutes. Most of them don't like it. "We hear booms all the time, throughout the night and day," one said. "It's basically constant. We can never be sure if it's a Kassam rocket fired against us, or if it's the IDF's shelling in response; it's hard to sleep, and our children don't like to go outside."
One woman who works in Kibbutz Nachal Oz, practically on the border with Gaza, said, "The booms here are very loud, and very constant. We're literally living in a war zone."
Some residents question whether the artillery is even efficient at stopping the Kassam rockets. "It's become a nightmare, and it doesn't seem to work," one said. Ynet's Shmuel Hadad reports, in the name of one local resident, that Kassams are sometimes fired even during the IDF shelling. Of the 2,000 shells launched by Israel in the past two days, one barrage injured several Arabs near Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza yesterday.
Several Kasssams have hit the southern industrial zone of Ashkelon in the past weeks, including one that struck a critical, sensitive installation and causing millions of shekels worth of damage. Ashkelon Mayor Roni Mahatzri has discussed the matter with Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz, expressing concern over the rocket hits in the industrial area. Some business owners say their enterprises have already begun to suffer, and that suppliers are hesitant to arrive. Ashkelon, with close to 110,000 people, is one of Israel's largest cities.
The after-effects of Monday's suicide terrorist bombing in southern Tel Aviv, in which nine people were killed, are still being felt. Of the more than 65 who were wounded, 28 were still hospitalized this morning, including two in critical condition in Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv. Three others of the wounded are listed in serious condition, and eight are in moderate condition.
Of the two critically wounded, one is a 16-year-old tourist from Florida. He initially received some 40 blood transfusions. His father was wounded in the attack.
Prime Minister Olmert is going to have to authorize a ground attack on Gaza to stop this. There simply is no other choice.