For the third time since the launch of Operation Protective Edge 46 days ago, a rocket landed near a kindergarten. Rockets continue to rain on Israel.
A man displays shrapnel found recently outside his home in Sderot after a rocket landed nearby. (Photo: Mendy Hechtman/Flash90)
A salvo of rockets just missed a packed Israeli kindergarten in the south on Friday, breaking the calm after a relatively quiet night.
A five-rocket salvo saw the Iron Dome intercept two rockets over Ashkelon. Three rockets struck the western Negev; one of them landed just 12 meters (roughly feet) from a packed kindergarten. Luckily, all children and staff are safe; the building was protected from rocket fire and all of the occupants were in safe areas.
Earlier Friday, an additional salvo was fired at the Ashkelon Regional Council, near the Gaza Belt, and in the Negev, but there are no injuries nor damage reported.
The near-miss follows Education Minister Shai Piron’s assertion Thursday that the school year would continue as usual, despite the ongoing rocket fire on civilians.
“The school year will begin as planned. We are prepared for any security-related occurrences,” the MK explained. “During the first two weeks of the school year, the education system will not be occupied with regular teaching, but rather with activities to dissipate the tensions and with discussions surrounding the events of the summer, including the arousal and demonstration of racism and incitement.”
An Israeli girl suffering an anxiety attack is taken to hospital after rockets landed near her in the southern city of Ashkelon. (Photo: Edi Israel/Flash90)
The Ashklelon and Be’er Sheva Regional Councils have all pledged to ignore Piron’s statement, according to Walla! News, citing security concerns and potential psychological toll on the area’s children.
This is the third time a rocket has struck near a school. The previous rocket strike wounded a 33-year-old man on Thursday, as he heroically was protecting children from the missile with his own body.
Later on Friday, two rockets were intercepted over Sderot. A Be’er Sheva man was wounded by shrapnel from a three-rocket salvo on the southern capital, according to Yediot Aharonot, and is being treated for moderate-level injuries.
Source: Israel National News