September 11th, 2007
IDF SPOKESPERSON ANNOUNCEMENT

69 IDF soldiers injured as Qassam rocket hits base north of Gaza

69 soldiers were wounded after Palestinians terror organizations launched a
Qassam rocket into Israel which landed in an army base north of the Gaza
Strip. One IDF soldier was critically wounded, four soldiers were seriously
wounded, seven soldiers were wounded moderately and 57 soldiers were wounded
lightly. The injured soldiers received medical treatment on location and
were taken to hospitals by Medical Corps ambulances with the assistance of
the Air Force and the Magen David Adom. The families of the injured were
notified soon after the incident. The injured soldiers were transferred to
the Barzilay Hospital in Ashkelon, Soroka Hospital in Be'er Sheva, Shiba
Hospital in Tel Hashomer, Belinson Hospital in Petah Tikva, and the Hadasa
Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem. 26 soldiers were released after being
checked by doctors in the hospital.

Shortly after the incident the Chief Engineer, Brig. Gen. Moshe Sheli, and
the Commander of the "Magal" Combat Support Element, Colonel Eldar Peled,
arrived on scene in order to supervise the medical treatment and the
evacuation of the injured soldiers. In the morning hours the GOC of Southern
Command, Major-General Yoav Galant, and the Commander of the Ground Corps,
Major General Benny Gantz, met with the base staff to receive a briefing on
the attack and to speak to soldiers on the base as well. Commanders of the
Zikim base also met with soldiers in order to discuss the attack.

The soldiers on the Zikim base completed their basic training program today
and will be released to be home with their families for the Rosh Hashanah,
Jewish New Year, holiday vacation.