Gaza rocket hits home in Israel, military strikes back

JERUSALEM - A rocket fired from Gaza struck a residential home in southern Israel early on Wednesday and the Israeli military began attacking militant sites in Gaza in response after days of rising tensions.

The Magen David Adom medical service said a woman and her three children, whose home in Beersheba was struck, were being treated for shock after they fled to their shelter when warning sirens sounded shortly before 4 am local time.

Her swift response likely saved their lives, as the home was destroyed and debris was scattered throughout the neighborhood.

The medical service said two other Beersheba residents were injured during the panic to seek cover.

The military said another rocket from Gaza landed in the sea, just off the coast of one of the larger cities in central Israel. No injuries were reported.

Following the attacks, schools in Beersheba were closed and Israel's military chief was cutting short his visit to the United States to come back and manage the crisis.

As a first response, Israeli military jets pounded Hamas targets across the Gaza Strip. The Gaza Health Ministry said a 25-year-old militant was killed inside one of the posts that was targeted. Three other people were wounded.

Israel's military spokesperson said on Wednesday that the army sees the firing of two rockets at Israel earlier in the morning as "a severe incident".

Jonathan Conricus, a military spokesman, said 20 Hamas targets were struck, including offensive tunnels, weapon workshops and naval shafts. The military released video showing militants preparing to fire another rocket toward Israel before they were targeted.

The rocket attack on Beersheba was the first in months and the first that hit an Israeli home there since the 2014 summer war between Israel and Gaza's militant Hamas rulers.

Beersheba, which is about 50 kilometers from Gaza, is the biggest city in southern Israel, with a population of around 200,000.

Israel and Hamas have fought three wars over the past decade and fighting has flared up on several occasions recently, though neither side appears to be interested in another full-blown war. Egypt has been trying to mediate a long-term cease-fire to stave off another confrontation.

In a rare move, seemingly aimed at easing the tensions, the so-called "joint coordination room of resistance factions" that includes Hamas and other groups issued a statement distancing themselves from the rocket fire.

"We reject all irresponsible attempts that try to change the direction and sabotage the Egyptian efforts, including the overnight firing of the rocket," they said. "At the same time, we emphasize we are ready to confront the Israeli aggression."

However, Conricus said Israel holds Hamas accountable for the attacks even if the group did not launch the rockets.

"Hamas bares full responsibility for this attack," he said, adding that Hamas is "creating and enabling an environment of terror and violence along the security fence, as we have seen over the last months".

Ap - Xinhua

(China Daily 10/18/2018 page11)