Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip fired rocket attacks into southern and central Israel on Saturday morning, setting off sirens in numerous cities and towns. At least five people were injured, one of them critically.
“Red Alert” warning sirens were activated in Tel Aviv, about 70 kilometers from the Gaza Strip, and in Sde Boker, Arad and Dimona in the south, also more than 70 kilometers away.
Residents in these areas heard explosions.
The Magen David Adom emergency service said its doctors were treating a 70-year-old woman in critical condition and another man who was trapped after a direct rocket hit in the Gederot regional council. MDA said it was also treating a 20-year-old man who was moderately injured by rocket fragments in Yavné and two other people who were slightly injured as a result of a rocket strike in the southern city of Ashkelon.
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Medics also responded to reports of rocket strikes in Yavneh, Ashkelon and Kfar Aviv, near Ashdod.
The Israeli military urged residents of southern and central Israel to stay near bomb shelters amid the massive bombardment.
“The population in the south and center of the country is urged to stay near protected areas and follow the instructions of the Home Front Command,” the Israel Defense Forces said in an announcement early Saturday.
In a video from Ashkelon circulating on social media, large clouds of black smoke from fires can be seen at a suspected impact site.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant was on his way to the military headquarters in Tel Aviv amid massive rocket fire from the Gaza Strip, his office said on Saturday morning.
Gallant and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will soon hold meetings with senior security officials, their offices said.
This is a developing story.