Heavy rocket barrage on central cities; Four interceptions in Dan district • Debris fell in Bnei Brak

The quiet night on the Israeli side ended with a barrage of rockets the like of which has not been seen, at Gush Dan. Rockets were successfully intercepted with no casualties except for a number of anxiety victims treated by rescue forces. In Bnei Brak a few falls of shrapnel were identified, that hit the Vizhnitz Beis Midrash in the city.

Negev: in the morning five falls were recorded apparently outside a settlement in the Eshkol Regional Council. In all, nine hits were recorded in open areas in the Eshkol Regional Council since 9:50 am. No casualties and no damage.

Ofakim: eight rockets were fired at the town, seven interceptions, one fell out of town. There was also a fall inside a settlement in Sha'ar Hanegev. There is damage but no injuries.

In the afternoon a siren was sounded in Kiryat Gat, four rockets were fired, two of which were intercepted and 2 landed in open areas. Red Alert was also sounded in Arad, Dimona and Yeruham. Further it was reported on a rocket which fell in a home yard in Ashkelon. One anxiety victim was treated on the spot. In Dimona a fall was recorded near the Abokrinat Bedouin tribe. Two further falls in open areas in the Eshkol Regional Council.

In the afternoon there were three hits in Eshkol Regional Council, one in a packaging factory. The extent of the damage is being examined. The rest were in open areas. Two consecutive alarms were sounded in the Negev Regional Council. There were 2 falls in open areas. No casualties and no damage.

Earlier this morning, rockets were fired at the western Negev towns and at Ashkelon - four rockets landed in open areas and 4 were intercepted by Iron Dome. To date no reports of injuries or damage caused by the shelling. Alarms were also heard in neighboring localities to Ashdod.

Islamic Jihad claims that on the eight day operation it has launched 864 rockets, mortars and anti-tank missiles - including five Fajars, 273 Grads and 5 Kornet anti-tank missiles. An M75 missile was found in the Ma'ale Akrabim area near Dimona.

Vessels of the Navy fired at the Gaza port. According to the Palestinians, a few boats were on fire.

As part of the "Solid Rock Operation", the IDF attacked from the morning hours 60 terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip, of which 50 goals were seized in Beit Lahiya, Sajaiya Zeitoun and in the northern Gaza Strip. Among the targes were launching sites, tunnels, activity centers of terrorism and operational infrastructure of the Hamas terror organization.

The IDF Spokesman said: "The IDF is determined and will continue to attack targets systematically up to significant damage to the Hamas terrorist organization, and will work for the destruction of terrorist networks that operate to harm Israeli citizens. The IDF hit strongly and will deepen the harm to the Hamas terrorist organization and its terrorist infrastructure and all operator causes of terrorism at the State of Israel and its citizens."

The Ministry of Health in Gaza reported that since the beginning of Operation "Solid Rock", 208 were killed and 1550 were wounded in Gaza.

An Israeli official said that Israel is not expected to oppose the regular opening of the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt under an arrangement between Cairo and Ramallah, even if will not be a party. The source did not rule out the possibility of such an arrangement after the operation, and it is estimated that Egypt would not allow Hamas to be part of it and will only work with the Palestinian Authority. The source added that there is expectation in the Gaza population of easing the day after, they want a glimmer of hope because of the price. He estimates that as a result of the operation Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas will have difficulty of reconciliation with Hamas. He further argued that the Islamic Jihad is interested in the end of fighting more than Hamas, despite the fact that the Jihad is still participating in fire from Gaza.

'Globes' reports that while in Israel there were almost no sirens during the night, in the Gaza Strip, the IDF continued to attack the homes of Hamas leaders - the organization's television network reported that around midnight the air force's unmanned aircraft bombed the house of Fathi Hamad, a former interior minister and senior of the Hamas movement.

Click here for mobile and tablets

Rocket in Beer Tuvia Regional Council. Photo: Police Spokesperson
About two hours later, another hit by the IDF was reported, this time at the home of Mahmoud al - Zahar who is considered the number two in Hamas leadership and served as foreign minister in the Hamas government in Gaza. According to Palestinian reports, a jet fighter is that which fired two missiles at the house of the senior and it was completely destroyed.

The IDF called last night to residents of Beit Lahiya refugee camp and Sajaiah and Zeitun neighborhoods in northern Gaza Strip, to evacuate their homes today by 8:00 am.

The residents received recorded messages that said they should leave in order not to be harmed by the fighting.

"As part of our effort to avoid harming the civilian population, we send notices to residents of northern Gaza to leave their homes for their own protection," said IDF spokesman.

In the Barzilai Medical Center 42 casualties were treated during the last 24 hours. Since the beginning of the operation, Barzilai Hospital treated 217 casualties, including 80 anxiety and 137 body victims. 3 patients are hospitalized and 7 are in the emergency ward.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!