Following the targeted assassination of
the Palestinian Popular Resistance Committee leader Zuhair Qaisi by Israel
Defense Forces this past Friday, over 100 rockets have been fired from the
Gaza Strip to the south of Israel, forcing Israelis back into their shelters and
breaking down the daily routine. JFNA Israel is in the field to inform you of
recent developments.
Breaking news reports this evening in
Israel said a rocket had struck a school in Beersheva -- though fortunately the
school was empty after officials had decided to keep students home in the wake
of the escalated attacks.
Although schools within seven
kilometers of Gaza are open – they are all reinforced and have sufficient
shelter for children, schools between seven and 40 kilometers from Gaza are
closed. You can see a map showing distances from Gaza and seconds for finding
shelter here.
Videos of the rockets' flight and
impact as well the IDF's responses can be seen here.
The Iron Dome defense system has
intercepted around 90 percent of targets and Netanyahu has pledged to
increase its deployment in the coming months despite the steep cost involved
($100,000 per-Iron Dome response). Use of the Iron Dome has meant that Israeli
ground forces have been able to delay entering Gaza, with the Israeli Air Force
shouldering the burden.
Otzma has several volunteers living in
afflicted areas, two in Netivot and four in Kiryat Gat. David Korenthal, 23,
from Chicago, is in his sixth month of the program and reports "hearing booms,
seeing flashes and witnessing the Iron Dome at work. We feel safe; we know where
the shelters are and we're in contact with Otzma and the Chicago Federation
representative [Kiryat Gat is twinned with Chicago under the P2G scheme]." All
Otzma participants have been offered the opportunity to be relocated at any
time.
All necessary security precautions are
being undertaken in accordance with our emergency preparedness protocol and all
program participants have been contacted with a confirmation that they know how
to act during rocket attacks. We are also monitoring mission and VIP
activity in the wake of these developments.
A member of the Cohen family from
Sderot reflects on the unfortunate frequency of rocket attacks, saying that
"Sderot is being shelled less now than in the past and our children feel
relatively safe. But today, for the first time after a long period, we were
forced to take them back to the reinforced shelter." Meanwhile, the Shoshan
family from Asheklon reports on the improvements the Iron Dome has brought. "The
truth is that the situation has been kind of swallowed up in our daily life. The
Iron Dome has made us feel calmer." (source: the Maariv daily
newspaper.)
It is not clear at the moment whether
the situation is linked to the increasing threat from Iran, or how it may
develop. JFNA and its Israel
office will continue to keep you informed as the situation demands.
