Israeli citizens are once again running for shelter! Hundreds rockets of all types are fired from the Gaza Strip into the Gaza Envelope settlements in Israel’s south. The terrifying sound of the “color red” alert is again heard in Gaza Envelope communities and the cities in the south of Israel. Residents are again run for the safety of bomb shelters. Entire families – men, women, children and the elderly -sleep in the protected rooms (mamadim), and those that have no protected rooms, sleep in protected public buildings.
The “color red” alert is again heard in the Sha’ar HaNegev, Eshkol and Sdot Negev regions as well as in the cities of Sderot and Ashkelon. Last night, a house in Sderot sustained a direct hit, and a rocket hit a building in Sha’ar HaNegev. Alerts were also sounded in Be’er Sheva and the Iron Dome system shot down two rockets. On a kibbutz in the Gaza Envelope – which is in a 4.5 – 7 km. range from Gaza and lacks protected rooms – residents and their children are forced to spend the night in public buildings and kindergartens.
Residents of Gaza Envelope communities say they think an action in Gaza is close, they believe that a military strike similar to Operation Cast Lead is on the way, designed first and foremost, to hit the perpetrators of the rocket attacks and to end the fire, and then to create deterrence.
In recent years Keren Hayesod helped to renovate and build over 200 life-saving shelters in the south, as well as in the north. Bomb shelters in Sha\’ar HaNegev and Kibbutz Dorot have recently been renovated.
Dozens of bomb shelters, however, still await renovation.
In cooperation with the Ministry of Public Security, Keren Hayesod is raising funds to meet this security challenges. which is expected become even more important and urgent.
With hundreds of Kassam, Grad and other rockets and mortar shells fired at the Gaza Envelope and southern cities recentl, Keren Hayesod is ready to assist in defending Israel’s citizens.
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