By Xinhua
Jerusalem : At least 13 Qassam rockets were fired into the western Negev from the northern Gaza Strip early Thursday morning, ending a week-long lull in attacks on southern Israel communities.
According to a Ynet report on its website, no injuries were reported in the overnight barrage, but at least one local resident suffered from anxiety and was being treated by paramedics at the scene. Meanwhile, two of the rockets slammed into the middle of Sderot, causing damage to a building and a soccer field.
The “Color Red” alert system was activated to warn of incoming rockets and residents in the area reported hearing explosions moments before the Qassams landed in town.
The Islamic Jihad (Holy War) claimed responsibility for firing the rockets, saying that the barrage was an “initial response” to Israel’s killing of four militants in West Bank town of Bethlehem the day before.
The militants were killed by Israeli Police anti-terrorist forces in two separate incidents.
The Palestinian National Authority issued a statement denouncing the Israeli operations, and said it holds Israel responsible for a possible deterioration in the situation.
Ismail Haneyah, prime minister of the deposed Hamas-led government in Gaza, said on Wednesday that any cease-fire with Israel in the Gaza area would be conditional on the cessation of arrests and killings in the West Bank.