ISRAEL: Rocket launched from Gaza hits southern Israeli town threatening truce / Damage caused but no serious casualties

Record ID: 397371

  • Title: ISRAEL: Rocket launched from Gaza hits southern Israeli town threatening truce / Damage caused but no serious casualties
  • Date: 14th March 2012
  • Summary: NETIVOT, ISRAEL (MARCH 13, 2012) (REUTERS) AMBULANCES AT SCENE WHERE ROCKET HIT POLICEMEN EXAMINING ROCKET DAMAGED CAR (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) NETIVOT MAYOR, YEHIEL ZOHAR, SAYING: "Unfortunately, they spoiled our joy of getting back to school tomorrow. We will have to make a re-evaluation regarding this area, for example the fact that parents might not send their childre
  • Embargoed: 29th March 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Israel, Israel
  • Country: Israel
  • Topics: Conflict,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA9FHHDG2WV3C3FBQ1XC3TPU7IO
  • Story Text: A rocket launched from Gaza hit a southern Israeli town late on Tuesday (March 12), police said, threatening a fragile Egyptian-brokered truce that went into effect earlier in the day.
    The rocket hit a parking lot in the town of Netivot, causing damage but no serious casualties, police spokesperson Micky Rosenfeld told Reuters. One woman was lightly injured from shrapnel and several others were treated for anxiety symptoms, medics said.
    The truce between Israel and militant groups in the Gaza Strip, was largely observed on Tuesday after four days of cross-border violence in which 25 Palestinians were killed and 200 rockets were fired at Israel.
    The number of Palestinian rocket attacks dropped sharply after the ceasefire went into effect overnight, with few shootings reported since then.
    In a further sign of a return to normality in Israel, southern towns and cities announced plans to reopen schools that were kept shut for the past three days.
    But Netivot mayor Yehiel Zohar told reporters that a re-evaluation of the situation may be needed after the recent rocket launch.
    "Unfortunately, they spoiled our joy of getting back to school tomorrow. We will have to make a re-evaluation regarding this area, for example the fact that parents might not send their children (to school) tomorrow...we will make a decision soon a let everybody know," Zohar said as he came to the parking lot damaged by the rocket.
    Militants did fire nine mortars and rockets in the hours after the deal took effect, but caused no damage or injury.
    A rocket struck harmlessly after nightfall near the city of Ashkelon, shattering a six-hour calm but eliciting no immediate response.
    Israel has not launched any air strikes at the Hamas Islamist-ruled coastal territory.
    Previous ceasefire deals after earlier rounds of fighting have often gotten off to a slow start, with guns gradually falling silent within a day or two.
    The truce agreement followed appeals from world powers - the United States, the United Nations, France, the European Union and the Arab League - for both sides to exercise restraint.
    Gaza's Hamas Islamist leadership has kept out of the fighting and seemed eager to avoid a larger conflict with Israel.
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