JERUSALEM (EJP)—‘’Gaza terrorists fired a salvo of more than 30 rockets at southern Israel Wednesday early evening,’’ the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced.
As Israeli children headed home from school, “Code Red” sirens sounded in their communities.
At least eight of the rockets hit urban areas.
‘’Thankfully, the Iron Dome system intercepted three of the rockets. We will do everything in our power to fight Gaza terrorism and protect the people of Israel,’’ the IDF said.
The IDF responded to the rocket attack, hitting two terror locations in the northern and southern Gaza Strip with artillery fire.
Since the start of 2014, Gaza terrorists have fired more than 60 rockets at Israel.
This is the largest attack on Israel since Operation Pillar of Defense in 2012.
“It’s a barrage such as we haven’t seen for two years,” Haim Yellin, a local municipal official in the south, told Israel’s Army Radio.
While Palestinian Islamic Jihad group claimed responsibility for the rocket attack., Israel says Hamas is responsible for all attacks emanating from the Gaza Strip.
The IDF said it ‘’will do everything in its power to fight Gaza terrorism and protect the people of Israel.’’
Last week, the Israel Navy intercepted an Iranian arms ship destined for Gaza, which included 40 Syrian made M302 rockets that had a range of between 90 to 160 kilometers, 80 mortar shells, and nearly half a million rounds of ammunition.
Islamic Jihad was one of the intended recipients of the arms shipment, according to Israeli assessments.