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Netanyahu Cuts Short U.S. Trip After Gaza Rocket Strikes Near Tel Aviv Netanyahu Cuts Short U.S. Trip After Gaza Rocket Strikes Near Tel Aviv
(about 2 hours later)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel cut short his visit to the United States on Monday, hours after a rocket launched from Gaza struck a house in central Israel, injuring seven people.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel cut short his visit to the United States on Monday, hours after a rocket launched from Gaza struck a house in central Israel, injuring seven people.
“In light of the security events I decided to cut short my visit to the U.S.,” Mr. Netanyahu said, adding that he would fly back immediately after meeting President Trump “in the coming hours.”“In light of the security events I decided to cut short my visit to the U.S.,” Mr. Netanyahu said, adding that he would fly back immediately after meeting President Trump “in the coming hours.”
While in Washington this week, Mr. Netanyahu had been expected to address a policy conference organized by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, known as Aipac, on Tuesday. His appearance at the conference has now been canceled.While in Washington this week, Mr. Netanyahu had been expected to address a policy conference organized by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, known as Aipac, on Tuesday. His appearance at the conference has now been canceled.
In a statement, Mr. Netanyahu called the strike, in which two children were injured, a “criminal attack.”In a statement, Mr. Netanyahu called the strike, in which two children were injured, a “criminal attack.”
The rocket launched from Gaza struck a house outside Tel Aviv at 5:20 a.m. on Monday, the Israel Defense Forces said on Twitter. Reporters from Israeli news outlets tweeted early on Monday that the rocket hit at least one civilian home, injuring at least seven people, including two children.The rocket launched from Gaza struck a house outside Tel Aviv at 5:20 a.m. on Monday, the Israel Defense Forces said on Twitter. Reporters from Israeli news outlets tweeted early on Monday that the rocket hit at least one civilian home, injuring at least seven people, including two children.
Magen David Adom, an Israeli rescue service, said on Twitter that the group was treating victims for burns, blast injuries, and shrapnel wounds, as well as stress symptoms.Magen David Adom, an Israeli rescue service, said on Twitter that the group was treating victims for burns, blast injuries, and shrapnel wounds, as well as stress symptoms.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility in the attack. The home that was hit was in the pastoral community of Mishmeret, about 20 miles north of Tel Aviv.There was no immediate claim of responsibility in the attack. The home that was hit was in the pastoral community of Mishmeret, about 20 miles north of Tel Aviv.
the Kfar Saba region, north of Tel Aviv, according to the Jerusalem Post.
The apparent rocket attack comes less than two weeks after Israel and Hamas worked to de-escalate tensions after rockets from Gaza were fired at Tel Aviv, and two weeks before an election in which Mr. Netanyahu, facing indictment on corruption charges, is fighting for his political career.The apparent rocket attack comes less than two weeks after Israel and Hamas worked to de-escalate tensions after rockets from Gaza were fired at Tel Aviv, and two weeks before an election in which Mr. Netanyahu, facing indictment on corruption charges, is fighting for his political career.
Hamas, an Islamic militant group that seeks Israel’s destruction, is one of only two groups in Gaza known to possess rockets with a range capable of reaching Tel Aviv and the surrounding area. The other is Islamic Jihad, which shares a similar ideology.Hamas, an Islamic militant group that seeks Israel’s destruction, is one of only two groups in Gaza known to possess rockets with a range capable of reaching Tel Aviv and the surrounding area. The other is Islamic Jihad, which shares a similar ideology.
On Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces said explosives had been “hurled” during riots in Gaza, near the Israeli border, and that Israel had struck two Hamas posts in response.On Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces said explosives had been “hurled” during riots in Gaza, near the Israeli border, and that Israel had struck two Hamas posts in response.
Before Mr. Netanyahu’s announcement on Monday, his chief opponent in the upcoming election, scheduled for April 9, Benny Gantz, called on him to return home immediately to deal with the aftermath of the attack.Before Mr. Netanyahu’s announcement on Monday, his chief opponent in the upcoming election, scheduled for April 9, Benny Gantz, called on him to return home immediately to deal with the aftermath of the attack.
“The reality in which Hamas turned Israel into a hostage is unprecedented and unfathomable,” Mr. Gantz wrote on Twitter. “Netanyahu has to pack up now and return to Israel to handle this serious escalation.”“The reality in which Hamas turned Israel into a hostage is unprecedented and unfathomable,” Mr. Gantz wrote on Twitter. “Netanyahu has to pack up now and return to Israel to handle this serious escalation.”