This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-47689684
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| 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 belonging to a British-Israeli family in central Israel. | Seven people have been injured after a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip hit a house belonging to a British-Israeli family in central Israel. |
| The rocket came down at 05:25 (03:25 GMT) in the community of Mishmeret, 20km (12 miles) north of Tel Aviv. | The rocket came down at 05:25 (03:25 GMT) in the community of Mishmeret, 20km (12 miles) north 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. |
| Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cut short a trip to the US over the attack and vowed to respond with force. | Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cut short a trip to the US over the attack and vowed to respond with force. |
| 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. | 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 house belonged to Robert and Susan Wolf, two British-Israeli dual nationals who are originally from London. | The house belonged to Robert and Susan Wolf, two British-Israeli dual nationals who are originally from London. |
| Mr Wolf told the Daily Telegraph newspaper that he had been at home with his wife, son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren when the rocket hit. | Mr Wolf told the Daily Telegraph newspaper 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 said. | "If we hadn't got to the bomb shelter in time I would be burying all my family," he said. |
| 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. |
| Although the rocket triggered sirens in the Sharon and Emek Hefer regions, Israel's Iron Dome missile defence system was not activated. | Although the rocket triggered sirens in the Sharon and Emek Hefer regions, Israel's Iron Dome missile defence system was not activated. |
| When asked for an explanation, an IDF spokesman told the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper: "Iron Dome protects the areas in which it is stationed, according to operational situation assessments." | When asked for an explanation, an IDF spokesman told the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper: "Iron Dome protects the areas in which it is stationed, according to operational situation assessments." |
| Intended to combat missiles launched from ranges of between 40km and 70km, each Iron Dome battery can protect an area of roughly 155 sq km. | Intended to combat missiles launched from ranges of between 40km and 70km, each Iron Dome battery can protect an area of roughly 155 sq km. |
| But the BBC's defence correspondent Jonathan Marcus says there is a limited number of batteries available and they need to be deployed correctly to meet the most likely threats. | But the BBC's defence correspondent Jonathan Marcus says there is a limited number of batteries available and they need to be deployed correctly to meet the most likely threats. |
| The failure to intercept this missile, he adds, is a reminder of the altogether greater challenge should Israel be engaged in a conflict on its northern borders, where the volume of Iranian and Hezbollah missiles might swamp its defensive systems. | The failure to intercept this missile, he adds, is a reminder of the altogether greater challenge should Israel be engaged in a conflict on its northern borders, where the volume of Iranian and Hezbollah missiles might swamp its defensive systems. |
| Who was behind the attack? | Who was behind the attack? |
| IDF spokeswoman Major Mika Lifshitz blamed Hamas, which has fought three wars with Israel since 2008. | 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, and closed roads and suspended agricultural work near the boundary fence with Gaza. | The Israeli authorities have also closed the Kerem Shalom and Erez border crossings with Gaza, and closed roads and suspended agricultural work near the boundary fence 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." |
| The British ambassador to Israel, David Quarrey, said there could "be no justification of any kind for this attack". | The British ambassador to Israel, David Quarrey, said there could "be no justification of any kind for this attack". |
| 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." | 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." |
| 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". | 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. | 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 retaliatory strikes. "[Its] leaders must know that we will respond forcefully to their aggression," he said. | Islamic Jihad, another militant group, warned Israel against 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. |