Two rockets slam into southern Israel
In Gaza, IDF troops reportedly injure 17 Palestinians, as hundreds protest, throw stones at the border fence
Warning sirens wailed in the Hof Ashkelon regional council in southern Israel on Friday evening as a rocket was fired at the area, landing in an open field.
Later Friday, another rocket was fired from the Gaza Strip at the nearby Eshkol regional council. That projectile also hit an open field.
There were no injuries or damage reported in either incident.
Security forces said that a launch location for at least one of the rockets had been identified in Gaza.
Over the past 3 hours, as Israelis sat around their Shabbat tables, 2 projectiles launched from #Gaza hit open areas in southern #Israel
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) February 14, 2014
A rocket fired from the Strip had exploded in Hof Ashkelon on Monday, as well. No injuries or damage were reported.
Meanwhile, in what have become weekly clashes on the Israeli-Gazan border fence, Palestinian medical sources reported that 17 men had been injured by IDF troops Friday. Emergency services chief Ashraf al-Qudra said that 13 protesters were wounded by gunfire and four hit by tear gas.
An IDF spokesperson confirmed the shooting but did not say if anyone was hurt.
“Hundreds of Palestinians were throwing stones to try to damage the security fence between Gaza and Israel,” she said.
“Our soldiers tried to keep the crowd at bay by using anti-riot methods and by firing live bullets towards the legs of the main instigators,” she added.
AFP contributed to this report.
The Times of Israel Community.