Terrorists in Gaza (primarily Palestinian Islamic Jihad but Hamas also joined in) fired more than 50 rockets at Israeli civilians in southern Israel since 1:00 am Monday morning. (Update: Over 90 rockets were launched until a cease fire was reached on Monday evening).
The IDF Iron Dome aerial defense fighters intercepted and shot down 90 percent of the rockets but in some cases, the shrapnel resulting from the interception also caused damage to property as it fell to the surface.
Four Israelis were treated for severe anxiety and shock as a result of the attacks, and two more people were mildly injured while racing to bomb shelters, including one woman who fell and hit her head.
One of the rockets slammed into a children’s playgroup in the yard of a school, causing great damage but miraculously, no physical injuries.
Nurses and doctors at Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon moved their premature infants from the neonatal unit into the specially-equipped medical bomb shelter after repeated rocket attacks targeted the coastal city.
The Israel Defense Force responded Sunday as well as Monday with repeated strikes by IDF tanks and Israeli Air Force fighter pilots targeting terrorist positions in Gaza and Syria.
Israeli Warplanes Attack Islamic Jihad Targets in Syria, Gaza
Among the positions targeted were underground structures and compounds near Rafah in southern Gaza, which were being used to store materials used to produce rockets. In addition, in Khan Younis the IAF struck the headquarters of the PIJ Khan Younis Brigade, which included a compound for training with anti-tank missiles as well as military equipment used by the group’s naval commando force. In Beit Lahiya, IAF fighter pilots attacked a PIJ military training compound.
Despite a claim that the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group had claimed it was ready to agree to a ceasefire at 10 pm Monday, Israeli defense officials were taking no chances. The IDF Home Front Command ordered the closure of school classrooms for Tuesday as well, just as an extra precautionary measure.