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July 9, 2014

Thousands of Israelis Take Refuge as Rockets Target Jerusalem, Tel Aviv 
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Israel says it is responding to the latest round of Palestinian rocket
fire that began after the mass Israeli raids that followed the
kidnapping of three Israeli teens last month. Palestinian militants in
Gaza have fired more than 100 rockets in a 24-hour span, targeting
several towns including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Israel says its missile
defense system intercepted rockets heading for Tel Aviv, where a state
of emergency was declared. Thousands of Israelis have fled to shelters
in southern towns near Gaza. Two Israelis have been reported injured
from the rockets so far. The Israeli Cabinet has approved the option of
calling up nearly 40,000 army reservists for a potential ground invasion
of Gaza. Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon said Israel is preparing for a
lengthy battle.

Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon: "We are now in a situation in
which Hamas deteriorated the security situation around the Gaza Strip by
provoking and launching rockets against Israeli civilians. So, by one
way or another, we are going to stop Hamas, whether by charging them a
heavy price or by launching any kind of offensive measures, by air, by
ground or whatever, in order to stop them."

 

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