Hamas Rocket Barrage Injures Dozens In Central Israel

At least 12 Israelis sustained injuries of varying degrees on Saturday night as Hamas unleased several barrages of rockets on Israel’s central region, with direct hits reported in Tel Aviv, Bat Yam and Givatayim.

At around 8 p.m., Hamas claimed to have fired 150 rockets from the Gaza Strip at Tel Aviv.

Two 28-year-olds from Rishon Letzion were evacuated to Shamir Medical Center (formerly Assaf Harofeh Hospital) in Be’er Ya’akov with serious injuries, according to the Magen David Adom emergency response organization.

Near Yavne and the Mediterranean coast, a 73-year-old woman sustained severe injuries, and a 77-year-old man was rescued in moderate condition. Both were transported to Assuta Medical Center in Tel Aviv, MDA said.

In nearby Bat Yam, a 24-year-old man was moderately wounded and evacuated to Wolfson Medical Center in Holon.

A second barrage hit central Israel shortly thereafter, with four persons wounded in Tel Aviv, Rishon Letzion and Bat Yam.

A 34-year-old woman was seriously hurt in Tel Aviv. In Bat Yam, a 70-year-old man sustained moderate wounds, while a 40-year-old man was listed in light condition. MDA paramedics also treated a man for light injuries in Rishon Letzion, the organization said.

Shortly before 8 p.m., Palestinian media outlets reported that the Israel Air Force struck the home of Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in Gaza. The IDF did not confirm the airstrike.

Meanwhile, Energy Minister Israel Katz on Saturday night signed an order instructing the Israel Electric Corporation to immediately stop supplying power to the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan has asked Secretary-General António Guterres and Sérgio França Danese, the Brazilian diplomat who currently presides over the U.N. Security Council, to condemn Hamas’s war crimes.

“Israel expects and demands the solidarity and support of all those in the international community who oppose this barbaric terrorism and the targeting of innocent men, women and children for slaughter,” wrote Erdan in a letter.

Hamas killed at least 200 Israelis and wounded more than 1,400 on Saturday as it launched a massive offensive from the Gaza Strip—on Shabbat and the holiday of Simchat Torah—including firing more than 3,000 rockets and sending dozens of terrorists to infiltrate the Jewish state.

Hamas claimed to be holding 53 Israelis hostage in Gaza.

Produced in association with Jewish News Syndicate

(Additional reporting provided by JNS Reporter)