June 24, 2012

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Rockets continued to fall on southern Israel after a truce with Gazan terrorist groups mediated by Egypt went into effect.

The Iron Dome missile defense system intercepted five rockets fired at Ashkelon shortly after the truce began at 8 p.m. on Sunday. Several rockets also hit southern Israel on Sunday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the continued attacks Sunday, saying at the start of the regularly scheduled Cabinet meeting that “the IDF is taking strong action against those who are attacking us and it will take even stronger action if need be. Our policy is to use force in order to restore security and quiet to the residents of the south.”

Israel struck several targets in Gaza over the weekend, including, according to the Israeli military, a terror cell about to detonate a rocket. Hamas reported that at least three Palestinians were killed in retaliatory attacks over the weekend, including a child and a terrorist.

An Israeli man, 50, was seriously injured by shrapnel when a rocket exploded near a factory in Sderot.  A school in Sderot was also damaged by rocket fire.

At least 150 rockets fired from Gaza have struck southern Israel since the cross-border attacks began last week.

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