HAMAS

ISRAELI TOWNS HIT BY HAMAS ROCKETS
Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:35:51 GMT
Israeli southern towns are still being hit by Palestinians despite a full-scale Israeli ground incursion into the Gaza Strip.
At least 25 rockets have been fired at southern Israel on Wednesday the Israeli daily Haaretzreported.
Two Grad rockets hit Be'er Sheva Wednesday afternoon, after expiration of a three-hour ceasefire which had been declared earlier in the day to give a chance to people in the Gaza Strip to receive food and other humanitarian aid.
Hamas has also agreed to stop rocket attacks during the temporary ceasefire.
Two more rockets hit Ashkelon, one exploding in the backyard of a three story building. Nine people were treated for shock, but no other casualties were reported.
More rockets were also fired at the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council, close to the Gaza Strip.
Four rockets hit Sderot and Ofakim and Netivot were each hit by two earlier in the day. However, no casualties or damages have been reported.
Earlier on Tuesday, a Grad rocket hit Gedera, 30 kilometers from Tel Aviv.
Hamas had formerly extended the reach of its rocket attacks, hitting towns some 25 miles (40 kilometers) east of the Gaza Strip.
Israel has launched full-scale incursion on the Gaza Strip on December 27 to put an end to the Palestinian rocket attacks into Israel.
Despite the 12-day-old military campaign which left more than 710 people killed and over 3,100 others wounded in the populated Strip, Tel Aviv has failed to stop the rocket attacks.
Palestinian medics say women and children are among the victims.

SB/RE

(This news from IRNA, Iran, Janyary 7, 2009)