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Dozens hurt by rocket in Israel | Dozens hurt by rocket in Israel |
(20 minutes later) | |
At least 50 Israeli soldiers have been injured after a rocket fired from Gaza exploded in an army camp in southern Israel, the military says. | At least 50 Israeli soldiers have been injured after a rocket fired from Gaza exploded in an army camp in southern Israel, the military says. |
The wounded - some badly injured by shrapnel, others suffering from shock - were taken to nearby hospitals. | The wounded - some badly injured by shrapnel, others suffering from shock - were taken to nearby hospitals. |
It is thought to be the largest number of injuries sustained in a single rocket attack against Israel. | It is thought to be the largest number of injuries sustained in a single rocket attack against Israel. |
Correspondents say the government and army will come under strong pressure to retaliate forcefully. | |
The Israeli army said the rocket was fired from Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza and hit the training base near Zikkim, just inside Israeli territory. | |
Some of the wounded soldiers were hit by shrapnel while sleeping in adjacent tents. | Some of the wounded soldiers were hit by shrapnel while sleeping in adjacent tents. |
A number of soldiers suffered only minor injuries or shock and were discharged from hospital on Tuesday morning. | A number of soldiers suffered only minor injuries or shock and were discharged from hospital on Tuesday morning. |
Two militant groups claimed responsibility for the attack - Islamic Jihad and the Popular Resistance Committees. | Two militant groups claimed responsibility for the attack - Islamic Jihad and the Popular Resistance Committees. |
Psychological impact | Psychological impact |
Militants in Gaza frequently fire Qassam rockets towards southern Israel, many of which land in the town of Sderot. | Militants in Gaza frequently fire Qassam rockets towards southern Israel, many of which land in the town of Sderot. |
Few of the attacks cause casualties but their psychological impact on life in the area has been significant. | Few of the attacks cause casualties but their psychological impact on life in the area has been significant. |
Attacks last week on Sderot included one that landed near a crowded day care centre. | Attacks last week on Sderot included one that landed near a crowded day care centre. |
It led parents to pull their children out of school and brought demands for harsh retaliation. | It led parents to pull their children out of school and brought demands for harsh retaliation. |
The Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, told the country's military to draw up plans to curb rocket attacks from within the Gaza Strip. | The Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, told the country's military to draw up plans to curb rocket attacks from within the Gaza Strip. |
It stopped short of calls from some ministers to expand military operations in Gaza, or to cut Israel's supplies of water and electricity to the territory. | It stopped short of calls from some ministers to expand military operations in Gaza, or to cut Israel's supplies of water and electricity to the territory. |
Israel's government blames the Islamist movement Hamas, which seized control of Gaza in June, for not curbing the rocket attacks. | Israel's government blames the Islamist movement Hamas, which seized control of Gaza in June, for not curbing the rocket attacks. |
Tough questions | Tough questions |
The BBC's Joe Floto in Jerusalem says the Israeli authorities will be looking urgently at two questions. | The BBC's Joe Floto in Jerusalem says the Israeli authorities will be looking urgently at two questions. |
Qassam rockets are frequently fired from Gaza into southern Israel | |
The first and most immediate is why its soldiers were housed under canvas in an area prone to this kind of attack. | The first and most immediate is why its soldiers were housed under canvas in an area prone to this kind of attack. |
The second will be much harder to address - how to prevent Palestinian militant groups from firing their rockets into Israel. | The second will be much harder to address - how to prevent Palestinian militant groups from firing their rockets into Israel. |
Last year the Israeli army carried out a five-month offensive inside Gaza to do just that. | Last year the Israeli army carried out a five-month offensive inside Gaza to do just that. |
Hundreds of Palestinians were killed; the rockets did not stop. | Hundreds of Palestinians were killed; the rockets did not stop. |
After Tuesday's attack politicians and military commanders will be under intense pressure to respond forcefully, our correspondent adds. | After Tuesday's attack politicians and military commanders will be under intense pressure to respond forcefully, our correspondent adds. |