11 Qassams fired at Israel; man critically injured
[Sderot Mayor Eli Moyal told Israel Radio in a live interview that the
rocket count is wrong and that 25 rockets have fallen on Sderot.]

Ongoing fire: Following weekend's events in Gaza Strip, terror organizations
retaliate with massive fire toward Gaza vicinity communities. One rocket
hits southern Ashkelon's industrial zone, causing damage; second rocket
lands in closed school. Man critically wounded, two teachers treated for
shock
Shmulik Hadad YNET 06.11.06, 09:15
www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3261205,00.html

Gaza vicinity communities suffered an almost unprecedented Qassam barrage
Sunday morning, following the massive fire witnessed over the weekend.

Ever since the assassination of Popular Resistance Committees chief Jamal
Abu Samhadana and the tragic incident in which seven Palestinian family
members were killed on the Gaza beach, apparently by an IDF shell, the
terror organizations have failed to halt their fire.

Over the weekend, 19 rockets were counted on the Israeli side, and they were
joined by 11 additional rockets on Sunday morning.

The Israel Defense Forces is currently refraining for responding following
Defense Minister Amir Peretz's instruction not to respond with artillery
shells until the inquiry into the Beit Lahiya disaster is completed.

Four rockets landed in the Sderot area, one rocket falling inside an
elementary school and another landing nearby. As a result, the building
suffered damage.

One man was lightly injured and was evacuated to the Barzilai Medical Center
in Ashkelon, where his condition deteriorated and he was rushed into surgery
in critical condition. He is suffering from a shock wave and shrapnel in his
stomach. Two other people were treated for shock on the scene of the attack.

Only on Saturday night, the parents of children studying in the school which
was hit announced that the school would be put on strike following the
deterioration in the security situation. However, several students arrived
at the school and their parents rushed to take them back home.

One of the parents, Ilan Buhbut, told Ynet that "the rocket landed just next
to the first grade classrooms. As a result, a school worker was hurt and two
other teachers were in shock."

"Unfortunately, the structures here are unfortified and very dangerous. What
is more frustrating is the fact that the shelters we were promised are
standing and are not being used. We hope the authorities understand that the
children's lives are in real danger," he added.

One of the rockets fired Sunday morning landed in the southern Ashkelon
industrial zone and hit a metal factory. There were no injuries, but the
factory suffered damage.

City on strike

The Red Dawn alert system detected the launching of six other rockets at the
western Negev, one of them landing in an open area near Kibbutz Yad
Mordechai, two falling at sea and another one possibly landing on
Palestinian territory.

The system detected the launching of another two rockets, one toward Kibbutz
Nahal Oz and the other toward Kibbutz Mefalsim. In addition, three
explosions were heard in the Gizim area, but the alert system was not
activated there. There were no reports of injuries or damage in all
incidents.

Sderot Mayor Eli Moyal met with the prime minister's military secretary and
the Prime Minister's Officer director-general just as the Qassams began
falling. Moyal told them in detail about the harsh reality experienced by
his town's resident over the weekend and the night. The prime minister's
aides conveyed a message to the residents that they have Ehud Olmert's
support.

Moyal, on his part, decided to put the schools in Sderot on strike for the
day and asked the parents to pick up all the school students and
kindergarten children and take them home.

The mayor told Ynet that it was not a strike or a protest, but a way to
protect the children's lives following information he received. He added
that the municipality would evaluate the situation during the day and would
then decide whether to keep the schools closed in the coming days.

First Published: 06.11.06, 08:30
Latest Update: 06.11.06, 09:15