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                       Rockets Fired into Southern Israel

   by VOA News

   Israeli media say rockets fired into southern Israel from the Gaza
   Strip have killed three people, a day after an Israeli airstrike in
   Gaza killed the top military commander of Hamas.
   Palestinians bombarded southern Israel as Israelis pounded Gaza with
   fresh strikes Thursday.  Terrified residents stayed indoors in
   anticipation of heavy fighting in the area.
   The latest violence continues Israel's wave of airstrikes against
   Islamic militants in Gaza, which Palestinians say killed at least 10
   people. Israeli officials say the airstrikes are a direct response to
   almost daily Palestinian militant rocket strikes on Israel.
   An Israeli missile killed Hamas military commander Ahmed al-Jaabari
   Wednesday as he drove in a car in Gaza City.  Israel has warned other
   Hamas members not to "show their faces above ground" in the next few
   days.
   Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council held a late-night
   emergency meeting that Egypt and council member Morocco requested on
   behalf of the Palestinians.
   Indian Ambassador Hardeep Singh Puri, who heads the 15-nation council
   this month, said in his capacity as Indian ambassador that he hoped the
   meeting will lead to a de-escalation of violence in Gaza.
   Palestinian and Egyptian diplomats had warned earlier that they may
   send ground forces into Gaza.
   Israel's missile defense system intercepted 13 rockets Wednesday with
   at least one falling in the town of Beersheba. No one was hurt.
   Israel's Ambassador to the United States, Michael Oren, told CNN
   television that Israel has so far showed "super human" restraint with
   Palestinian rockets raining down on southern Israel almost every day.
   Oren says Wednesday's airstrikes on Gaza is a powerful message to Hamas
   that this has got to stop.
   Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel will keep doing
   everything necessary to protect its citizens.
   The White House says President Barack Obama told Netanyahu by telephone
   that the United States supports Israel's right to self-defense. He
   urged the prime minister to make every effort to avoid civilian
   casualties.
   The president also spoke with Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, who
   agreed to work to defuse the situation as quickly as possible. Egypt
   has been struggling to remain a voice of moderation in the Middle East,
   but has recalled its ambassador to Israel.
   Hamas says Israel has opened up what it calls "the gates of hell" and
   vows revenge.
   Israel's Shin Bet intelligence service said Jaabari was killed because
   of his "decade-long terrorist activity," including the kidnapping of
   Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit in 2006.  Jaabari was the most senior
   Hamas official to be killed since an Israeli invasion of Gaza four
   years ago.
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   46498.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/rockets-fired-into-southern-israel/1546498.html