Hamas terrorists in Gaza have fired a salvo of rockets at Central Israel moments ago, with at least 4 explosions heard in Yerushalayim and 5 in Beit Shemesh. It isn’t yet known whether any of the rockets were intercepted or landed in populated areas.
The rocket attack marks the first time Yerushalayim has been targeted with rockets since the 2014 Gaza war.
Update 11:20 AM ET: A fresh round of rockets have reportedly been fired at Sderot and other towns bordering the Gaza Strip. No injuries or damage have been reported.
Update 11:27 AM ET: Police have cleared the Kosel plaza and halted all Yom Yerushalayim activities in light of the rocket fire from Gaza targeting the city.
Update 11:35 AM ET: 7 rockets were confirmed to have been fired at Yerushalayim. 1 rocket was intercepted by the Iron Dome and the 6 others fell in open areas. No physical injuries or damage reported.
Update 11:38 AM ET: Another round of rockets have been fired at towns near the Gaza Strip, with at least 1 anti-tank missile fired at a vehicle in Sderot. A person inside the vehicle was lightly hurt. There have been four rocket barrages fired at Israel in less than an hour.
Update 12 PM ET: Yamina leader Naftali Bennett and Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid have both expressed support for a strong military response to the rocket fire from Gaza.
Update 12:07 PM ET: Residents of a town in the Sha’ar Hanegev region are being warned to stay indoors amid reports that terrorists from Gaza have infiltrated.
Update 12:10 PM ET: Israel has begun airstrikes in Gaza in response to rocket fire fired by Hamas terrorists. 9 reported dead. Early unverified reports say Hamas commander Muhammad Abdullah Fayyad has been killed after a motorcycle he was riding on was targeted in an airstrike.
Update 12:13 PM ET: Military sources have confirmed at least 40 rockets fired from Gaza into Israel.
Update 12:21 PM ET: 3 Palestinian children in Gaza were reportedly killed by a botched rocket launch, not Israeli strikes.
Update 12:34 PM ET: Rocket sirens are again blaring in Sderot and Hof Ashkelon warning of incoming rockets.
Update 12:35 PM ET: Israel’s Security Cabinet has officially given the green light to the IDF to carry out widespread airstrikes across Gaza.
Update: 1:17 PM ET: A large fire has broken out on Har Habayis. The circumstances are not yet clear but some reports suggest that fireworks lit by Arabs caught on to a tree causing the blaze.
Update 2:04 PM ET: A new barrage of rockets has just been fired from Gaza. Multiple Iron Dome interceptions reported.
פינוי מליאת הכנסת רגע לפני תחילת דיון יום הניצחון על גרמניה הנאצית לאחר שברחבי ירושלים נשמעת אזעקה #ברייקינג pic.twitter.com/cVisaZSLyZ
— Tal Schneider טל שניידר تال شنايدر (@talschneider) May 10, 2021
Destroy them and do it now! Genoog Shoin! Anything less will show weakness!
Take back Gaza.