Sirens again sounded in the Dan region at about 10:30 this morning. The Iron Dome system intercepted a rocket fired from Gaza. Hamas said it was responsible for the firing the rocket, which it described as an M-75, and that it was in response to Israeli bombing of a communications center. Rockets have continued be fired at southern Israel, with no reports of further casualties.
(9:33 am) Against a background of reports of attempts to arrange a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinians report that the IDF is continuing its aerial attacks in the Gaza Strip. Among other targets, a communications center has been hit, with six journalists reported injured.
After a comparatively quiet night in Israel's southern towns, rocket fire towards the area resumed this morning. A residential building in Ashkelon took a direct hit, with extensive damage. One person is reported lightly injured, and several have been treated for shock.
Other targets that have been hit in the Gaza Strip are two houses in Beit Lahiya, north of Gaza City, an area from which rockets have been launched, close to the Deir al-Balah refugee camp. Smuggling tunnels in the south of the Gaza Strip near the border with Egypt have also been hit.
Yesterday evening there were contradictory reports about a possible cease-fire. Israeli sources deny reports in the Arabic media of an initial draft of an agreement, but say that there are contacts in an attempt to calm the situation. President Morsi of Egypt said that there were indications of an imminent cease-fire, but no guarantees. Israeli troops are at assembly points near the border with Gaza ready for a possible ground incursion.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on November 18, 2012
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2012