Mayors close camps, defying IDF

Mayors in Israeli cities under the heaviest rocket fire from Hamas will keep summer camps closed Monday, despite permission from the Home Front Command to open them.

The Home Front Command and Education Ministry released guidelines Sunday for communities from 7-40 kilometers from Gaza, saying that normal summer activities should take place tomorrow if there is a shelter nearby that the kids can reach in a certain period of time, depending on the distance from Gaza.

Israeli soldiers inspect rocket damage to a house in the southern city of Beersheba on Thursday, July 10, 2014 (photo credit: Flash90)
Israeli soldiers inspect rocket damage to a house in the southern city of Beersheba on Thursday, July 10, 2014 (photo credit: Flash90)

But city authorities chose to take extra precautions, with Beersheba closing all educational and recreational activities except special education classes. Ashkelon, Ashdod, Gan Yavne, Kiryat Gat, Kiryat Malachi, and regional councils in the area all followed suit.

In communities closer than 7 kilometers from Gaza, summer educational and recreational activities will only take place in sheltered areas, NRG reports.

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