Hamas fires over 200 rockets from Gaza, two seriously injured

Weeks before the Eurovision Song Contest and Israel’s Independence Day, close to 200 rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip towards Israeli communities on Saturday, striking several homes and leaving one elderly woman severely injured from shrapnel.

According to IDF Spokesperson’s Unit dozens of projectiles were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system.

While the majority of rockets launched by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad struck in open areas, several rockets made direct hits on homes in communities in southern Israel, including in Sderot and Ashkelon.

Magen David Adom reported that an 80 year old woman was injured severely and suffering from shrapnel wounds to her head and limbs. She was evacuated to Barzilai Hospital by MDA teams. Another 50 year old man in Ashkelon was transferred to hospital moderately injured with shrapnel wounds to his limbs.

A 15-year-old boy was lightly injured while running to a shelter and another two suffered from shock.

Incoming rocket sirens began early on Saturday morning and by early afternoon were heard in Israel’s Shefla region and in Kiryat Malachi and Beit Shemesh near Jerusalem.

In response the IDF attacked over 30 targets belonging to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad across the Gaza Strip.

Among the targets struck were a number of Hamas military compounds in the Gaza City neighborhoods of Tel Alawah and Shajiya, which are used for training and manufacturing weapons. Other targets struck belonged to Hamas’ naval force and a joint military compound used by Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PLO) in Beit Lahiya.

Several targets belonging to Palestinian Islamic Jihad were struck including a number of military compounds in Dir al-Balah, Tel Sultan, Shati and Khan Yunis.

The IDF also struck two high-trajectory launchers and several observation posts along the border.

The Israeli military also struck a cross-border stack tunnel in the Rafiah area of the southern Gaza Strip belonging to PIJ, which according to IDF Spokesperson Brig.-Gen. Ronen Manelis was going to be used by the group to carry out a terror attack and had increased their excavation work in recent weeks.

RAW FOOTAGE: Incoming rocket fire from Gaza at Israeli civilians, as filmed by the Israeli civilians that Hamas is targeting. pic.twitter.com/Kz1d1KwCle

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) May 4, 2019

“The attacks were carried out in response to the high trajectory rocket launches by terror organizations from the Gaza Strip towards the citizens of the State of Israel,” read a statement released by IDF Spokesperson’s Unit. “The IDF views with great severity the rocket attack/ against Israeli settlements, and is highly prepared to continue to act as necessary.”

The IDF also closed all crossings into the Gaza Strip and cancelled the fishing zone off of the coast.

Israel’s military has increased troop presence in southern Israel, deploying extra troops in the aerial defense, military intelligence and Homefront command. Ground troops in infantry units have not been increased though the military said it could change following a situational assessment later on Saturday evening.

“Hamas is responsible for what is happening in the Gaza Strip.  We see PIJ as an organization that is not deterred bu Hamas, which is avoiding to deal with the terror group,” Manelis said. Adding that in the coming hours, our strikes will be extended to other targets as well.”

According to the military, the rocket barrages are done in a coordinated manner by Hamas and PIJ and “will not stop for the next few hours.”

Palestinian Islamic Jihad released a statement on Saturday afternoon threatening the upcoming Eurovision song contest, saying that the group “will prevent the enemy from holding a festival whose purpose is to undermine the Palestinian narrative.”

“The civilians (of Israel) are destined to hell for the continual expansion of the Israeli aggression towards our people and our resistance,” the statement said. “We say to the decision-makers in Israel: do not dream of having quiet while the Palestinian people pay the price. The resistance is committed to respond to the Enemy’s aggression and to surprise him.”

The European Broadcasting Union stated that despite the rocket attacks the rehearsals “will continue as normal” and the situation will be “closely monitored.”

“Safety and security is always of paramount importance for the EBU,” read a statement given to The Jerusalem Post. “We continue to work alongside KAN and the Home Front Command to safeguard the wellbeing of everyone working in and joining us at Expo Tel Aviv. We will continue to closely monitor the current situation and rehearsals will continue as normal.”

The Home Front Command issued instructions for residents who live within 40 kilometers from the Strip according to the need for consultation with heads of local authorities.

According to the instructions, residents must remain near protected spaces and public gatherings have been limited to 300 people in enclosed spaces only and no agricultural work is allowed.

While Tel Aviv did not open public shelters, many municipalities including did.

Prime minister Netanyahu held consultations with senior defense officials at the Kirya Military headquarters in Tel Aviv on Saturday afternoon. IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen Aviv Kochavi also held a situational assessment with his deputy Eyal Zamir, the heads of the Southern Command, Military Intelligence, Operations Directorate, Air Force, Home Front Command, Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, the Shin Bet, and other senior officials.

According to the military the latest escalation is due to the violent clashes during on Friday’s weekly March of Return. A PIJ sniper injured two IDF soldiers stationed along the Gaza border fence leading to Israel to carry out retaliatory strikes which killed two Palestinians. An IAF air strike overnight killed another two Hamas militants.

Israeli tanks fired at Hamas posts at the Gaza strip, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit reported.

Rocket found on the street near Ashkelon beach. No injuries reported.#IsraelUnderFire#Israel #Gaza pic.twitter.com/FuUaJcIv7b

— (((Emily Schrader))) (@GippersChutzpah) May 4, 2019

“Islamic Jihad is trying not to take responsibility for it,” the military said adding that “this is a serious incident for us.”

Following the violence and expecting a response from groups in the blockaded coastal enclave the IDF closed several roads and hills near the Gaza border early Saturday morning.

Hamas issued a statement saying that “the resistance will use all its means and capabilities to protect and defend the blood and interests of our people and to confront the Israeli aggression. We affirm our fighters are prepared for all scenarios.”

The IDF has warned that both Hamas and PIJ have restored their military capabilities to their pre-2014 strength, and expect that in the next war the southern communities bordering the Strip would be incessantly pounded with rockets and mortar attacks.

The rocket barrages come shortly before a potentially tense month, with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Israel’s Memorial Day and Independence Day, and Nakba day and the one year anniversary of the opening of the American Embassy in Jerusalem.  

The IDF is also preparing for violence ahead of Eurovision, which will take place in Tel Aviv in May with thousands of tourists expected to visit.

Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the second largest group in the Gaza Strip after Hamas, has been assessed by military intelligence as a factor increasing the risk of an escalation in the blockaded coastal enclave, since it is not under the direct control of Hamas and acts independently for its own interests.

“Facts in the field show that Islamic Jihad does not submit to the authority of Hamas and acts without its knowledge,” the military said on Monday, adding nevertheless that Hamas is still responsible for everything that occurs in the Gaza Strip.

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