Rockets fired from the Gaza Strip kept pushing northward on Tuesday night when the rocket alert siren was blared in Caesarea. It was followed by a volley of about 30 rockets fired at different areas of the country, Ynet news reported.
Over 70 rockets fell across an increasing number of communities across Israel during the day.
The Iron Dome missile defense system intercepted three rockets fired at the Tel Aviv metropolitan area. Hamas claimed to have fired four M75 rockets at Tel Aviv.
After being told by Israel’s Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon that there is a possibility Hamas could use its 80km-range rockets (Fajr) to fire at the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, mayors of Tel Aviv, Givatayim, Ramat Gan and Rishon LeZion have opened public shelters in their city.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has urged Israelis within a 40km (24 mile) radius of the southern coastal territory to stay within reach of protected areas and ordered summer camps shut as a precaution against rocket fire.
Color Red alert sirens were sounded across the country on Tuesday night including in Sderot, Ashdod, Yavne, Be'er Sheva, Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, Givatayim, Rishon LeZion,Kadima-Tzoran, Ness Ziona, Southern Sharon Regional Council, Ra'anana and Herzliya.
The Israel Airports Authority announced that timings of arrivals and departures at Ben Gurion International Airport may change due to the security situation. The Sde Dov Airport in Tel Aviv was closed to outgoing air traffic.
Following the siren in Tel Aviv and instructions from the IDF Home Front Command the Tel Aviv-Yafo municipality has moved to working in a state of emergency and has opened all of the shelters for the public. Over the last few years the Tel Aviv municipality has invested over 20 million shekels (5,8 million $) in upgrading the public shelters system. In addition, the municipality expanded the underground shelters network by adapting 70 underground parking lots in the total size of 850,000 sqm to fit security requirements and serve as shelters in times of need, adding an additional 850,000 sq. meters that can accommodate a total of 800,000 people.
Hamas, the Islamist group in Gaza, also claimed it fired four M75 rockets towards Jerusalem. The rocket alert siren was sounded in the Israeli capital, as well as surrounding cities Beit Shemesh and Beitar Illit. The Jerusalem municipality has opened all of its public bomb shelters.
Magen David Adom, the Israeli equivalent of the Red Cross, treated nine people Tuesday in wake of the ongoing rocket fire. One person was lightly hurt from shrapnel to his foot, and another injured himself running to a shelter. Seven other people were treated for anxiety.
On Monday night, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced ‘’Operation Protective Edge’’ in Gaza against Hamas after a day in which some 80 rockets were fired at southern Israeli communities.
"The IDF has commenced Operation Protective Edge in Gaza against Hamas, in order to stop the terror Israel's citizens face on a daily basis," the IDF spokesperson said.
In combined efforts of both aerial and naval forces, the IDF targeted overnight approximately 50 terror sites and targets across the Gaza Strip. Among the targets are 4 activity sites utilized by Hamas operatives who are responsible for numerous rocket attacks and were involved in various terror activities against Israel.
Hamas has vowed to strike back, threatening that its rockets would indeed reach Tel Aviv.
Tel Aviv had been already targeted by Hamas rockets during the previous IDF operation ‘Pillar of Defense’, to counter rocket fire in November 2012.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday evening issued the following statement:
"In recent days, Hamas terrorists have fired hundreds of rockets at Israel's civilians. No other country lives under such a threat, and no country would accept such a threat. Israel will not tolerate the firing of rockets on our cities and towns.’’
‘’We have therefore significantly expanded our operations against Hamas and the other terrorist organizations in Gaza. This comes after our repeated efforts to restore calm were met with increased Hamas rocket fire,’’ he added.
Netanyahu stressed that Israel ‘’is not eager for war, but the security of our citizens is our primary consideration.’’
‘’Israel targets Hamas terrorists and not innocent civilians. By contrast, Hamas targets Israeli civilians while hiding behind Palestinian civilians. Hamas, therefore, bears full responsibility for any harm that comes to Israeli and Palestinian civilians alike,’’ he said.
Gaza terrorists have fired more than 450 rockets at Israel since the beginning of the year. The attacks have sent thousands running into bomb shelters, threatening 3.5 million Israeli lives.
Since Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, terrorists from the Gaza strip have fired more than 8,000 rockets into Israel.
Although Israel’s Iron Dome Missile Defense system stops some of the attacks, most rockets are capable of reaching Israel’s biggest cities. More than half a million Israelis have less than 60 seconds to find shelter after a rocket is launched from Gaza into Israel. Many have only 15 seconds.