Total of seven rockets exploded in western Negev overnight, no damages or casualties reported; Hamas announces willingness to halt recent military escalation.
By Gili Cohen and Yanir Yagna | Jun.21, 2012
Gaza militants fired seven rockets at the western Negev
overnight, including five on Thursday morning, despite reported Hamas
attempts to end a recent violent escalation along the Strip's border with Israel.
The rockets fired in the later morning hours targeted the Eshkol
Regional Council, with all of them landing in open fields and without
causing casualties or damages.
Overnight, one Qassam rocket hit an open field near Ashkelon, with
another launched at the southern city intercepted by an Iron Dome
anti-missile battery.
Classes were canceled in Ashkelon on Thursday in light of the security situation.
On Wednesday, Hamas militants announced they were ready to stop the
latest round of cross-border violence as long as Israel followed suit,
in a statement issued after Israeli air strikes killed two Palestinians
in the Gaza Strip in a third day of fighting.
"Responding to the Egyptian efforts, we and the armed resistance
announce our commitment to stop this round of confrontation as long as
the occupation stops this aggression," said a written statement from
Hamas's armed wing.
Israel had no immediate comment.
Around 70 rockets and mortars were fired into Israel from Gaza since
Wednesday morning. Around 120 were fired since the start of the week.
