Ashkelon Hit By Rockets, At Least 14 Injured.

At least 14 people were wounded Wednesday evening, including a mother and her three-year-old daughter, when a Grad rocket fired from Gaza hit the Hutzot 5Shopping Center in Ashkelon.

The rocket ripped through the roof of the mall, causing a large chunk of the roof to collapse in a huge pile of rubble and twisted metal. Four windows were blown out of the side of the building. The top floor of the building, which bore the brunt of the attack, is where offices and clinics are located.

MDA said 14 people were wounded - three seriously, two moderately and nine slightly, adding that all the casualties had been evacuated from the site of the attack, including four people who were briefly trapped under the rubble.

Two terror groups, the Islamic Jihad and the Popular Resistance Committees, claimed responsibility for the attack. Israel believes Islamic Jihad is getting the Grads from Iran. "It's part of the Iranian war against Israel," former deputy defense minister Ephraim Sneh told Israel Radio.

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Again the rockets fly, and this time 14 hurt. You have 15 seconds to find shelter. Not minutes, but seconds. What can you do in 15 seconds?




Imagine if Ashkelon or Sderot was any American town. Imagine if they were San Diego and Gaza was Baja California. And rockets plastered that town every day, damaging property, maiming children, killing people. Imagine the US government demanding that the Mexican government stop these attacks. And now imagine that the Mexican government refuse to stop them and even encouraging them. Imagine that after every rocket attack, the people of Baja would take to the streets and celebrate, especially if they managed to kill someone. How long would it go on for. A day, a week, a month, a year? No. The US would have invaded within a month and wiped them out. They wouldn't wait 7 years to take care of the problem.


The Olmert government is weak. Hamas senses it and will not stop until Olmert gives in to their demands. The time has come in Israel for a total change of government and policy. Time for Israelis to elect a strong leader. It is time for Olmert to step down!

UPDATE at 2242:

The count is now at 15 with 4 seriously wounded.

Sderot Media Center

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