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Seven injured as Gaza rocket hits home in central Israel Seven injured as Gaza rocket hits home in central Israel
(about 2 hours later)
Seven people have been injured after a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip hit a house in central Israel, police say. Seven people have been injured after a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip hit a house in central Israel, officials say.
The rocket came down at 05:25 local time (03:25 GMT) in Mishmeret, 20km (12 miles) north of the city of Tel Aviv.The rocket came down at 05:25 local time (03:25 GMT) in Mishmeret, 20km (12 miles) north of the city of Tel Aviv.
This is the furthest a Palestinian rocket has reached in Israel since the 2014 conflict with militants in Gaza.This is the furthest a Palestinian rocket has reached in Israel since the 2014 conflict with militants in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is cutting short a trip to the US over the incident, has vowed to respond with force.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is cutting short a trip to the US over the incident, has vowed to respond with force.
So far no-one has said they carried out the attack. But an Israeli military spokeswoman has accused the militant group Hamas, which controls Gaza. So far no-one has said they carried out the attack. The Israeli military accused the militant group Hamas, which controls Gaza, but a Hamas official said it had "no interest" in doing so.
A week and a half ago, two rockets were launched towards Tel Aviv and nobody was hurt. The Israeli military responded with dozens of air strikes across Gaza, which injured four people.A week and a half ago, two rockets were launched towards Tel Aviv and nobody was hurt. The Israeli military responded with dozens of air strikes across Gaza, which injured four people.
Hamas and Israeli officials later said those rockets had been fired "by mistake".Hamas and Israeli officials later said those rockets had been fired "by mistake".
What happened on Monday?What happened on Monday?
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the rocket that hit the house in Mishmeret was launched from Rafah in southern Gaza, about 120km (75 miles) away.The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the rocket that hit the house in Mishmeret was launched from Rafah in southern Gaza, about 120km (75 miles) away.
The explosion from the rocket severely damaged the house and set it on fire.The explosion from the rocket severely damaged the house and set it on fire.
Israel's Magen David Adom ambulance service said it had treated two women who were moderately wounded and five other people, including an infant, a three-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl, who had minor wounds.Israel's Magen David Adom ambulance service said it had treated two women who were moderately wounded and five other people, including an infant, a three-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl, who had minor wounds.
The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported that they were British-Israeli dual nationals. It quoted a man called Robert Wolf as saying that he had been at home with his wife, son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren when the rocket hit.
"If we hadn't got to the bomb shelter in time I would be burying all my family," he added.
The blast also caused damage to at least one nearby home and several vehicles.The blast also caused damage to at least one nearby home and several vehicles.
"We heard the siren and we didn't think it was anything, but my daughter made us go into the reinforced room," Smadar Castelnovo, who lives opposite the house that was hit by the rocket, told Reuters news agency.
"My daughter was upset because we had left the dog out. We went out to get the dog and as soon as we went back in there was a very loud boom."
Although the rocket triggered sirens in the Sharon and Emek Hefer regions, Israel's Iron Dome missile defence system did not appear to have been activated.Although the rocket triggered sirens in the Sharon and Emek Hefer regions, Israel's Iron Dome missile defence system did not appear to have been activated.
Who was behind the attack?Who was behind the attack?
IDF spokeswoman Major Mika Lifshitz blamed Hamas. IDF spokeswoman Major Mika Lifshitz blamed Hamas, which has fought three wars with Israel since 2008.
"It's a Hamas rocket, itself made by Hamas," she said. "It has an ability to reach more than 120km.""It's a Hamas rocket, itself made by Hamas," she said. "It has an ability to reach more than 120km."
"We see Hamas as responsible for all that happens in the Gaza Strip," she added."We see Hamas as responsible for all that happens in the Gaza Strip," she added.
Maj Lifshitz said the IDF was deploying two additional brigades to the area surrounding Gaza, and that there was a "very limited" calling up of reservists.Maj Lifshitz said the IDF was deploying two additional brigades to the area surrounding Gaza, and that there was a "very limited" calling up of reservists.
The Israeli authorities have also closed the Kerem Shalom and Erez border crossings with Gaza.The Israeli authorities have also closed the Kerem Shalom and Erez border crossings with Gaza.
Prime Minister Netanyahu said in a statement: "There was a criminal attack on the State of Israel, and we will respond forcefully."Prime Minister Netanyahu said in a statement: "There was a criminal attack on the State of Israel, and we will respond forcefully."
Hamas has so far not commented, but its leader Yehiya Sinwar reportedly cancelled a public meeting scheduled for Monday afternoon. Jason Greenblatt, the US special representative for international negotiations, wrote on Twitter: "We condemn this violence from Gaza and affirm Israel's right to defend itself."
But Islamic Jihad, another militant group, said: "We warn the Zionist enemy from committing an aggression against the Gaza Strip." Hamas has not commented on the attack publicly, but an unnamed official told AFP news agency that "no-one from the resistance movements, including Hamas, has an interest in firing rockets from the Gaza Strip towards the enemy".
The Times of Israel reported that the Hamas-run interior ministry in Gaza had launched an investigation to determine who was behind the rocket launch.
Islamic Jihad, another militant group, warned Israel against launching retaliatory strikes. "[Its] leaders must know that we will respond forcefully to their aggression," he said.
Could the situation escalate?Could the situation escalate?
The timing of this rocket launch comes at a very sensitive time.The timing of this rocket launch comes at a very sensitive time.
The Israeli prime minister is fighting a close election campaign in which he is brandishing his security credentials. He had just arrived in Washington, where he was due to meet President Trump twice and give a speech.The Israeli prime minister is fighting a close election campaign in which he is brandishing his security credentials. He had just arrived in Washington, where he was due to meet President Trump twice and give a speech.
He will now go once to the White House and then says he will return home "to manage our actions from close at hand".He will now go once to the White House and then says he will return home "to manage our actions from close at hand".
Already fears of an escalation were high with this week's anniversary of the start of protests at Gaza's boundary fence with Israel.Already fears of an escalation were high with this week's anniversary of the start of protests at Gaza's boundary fence with Israel.
Egyptian security officials - who've been trying to broker a longer-term ceasefire between Israel and Hamas - were due in Gaza this morning. Now, their efforts to bring quiet are in jeopardy.Egyptian security officials - who've been trying to broker a longer-term ceasefire between Israel and Hamas - were due in Gaza this morning. Now, their efforts to bring quiet are in jeopardy.