Teen Critically Wounded in Gaza Missile Attack, IDF Retaliates
by Chana Ya'ar and Gavriel Queenann
A 16-year-old boy was critically injured Thursday afternoon when Arab terrorists opened fire at a school bus traveling in southern Israel near the Nahal Oz crossing.
Magen Dovid Adom medics raced to the scene and stabilized the boy's condition while receiving mortar fire before he was airlifted to Soroka Medical Center in Be'er Sheva. The boy has been admitted to the Trauma Unit. with head injuries, according to hospital officials. The wounded driver was also rushed to the hospital.
Although police initially identified the weapon as a medium anti-tank missile, other reports indicated that it may have been a mortar attack. A barrage of mortar shells and rockets continued to be fired at the area following the attack. One exploded next to a house in the Eshkol region. Miraculously, no one was physically injured although the house was badly damaged. At least 16 projectiles had been fired at Israel's southern region by 5:00 p.m. local time.
Residents of local Gaza Belt area communities were ordered by IDF Home Front Command to enter their bomb shelters. Among those ordered into the shelters was Science & Technology Minister Professor Daniel Hershkowitz (Jewish Home), who was touring the south at the time.
MDA has raised its alert level to "Level B," one stage short of the highest level and roads into the area have been sealed off by the IDF in order to prevent civilians from entering the area and accidentally exposing themselves to rocket and mortar fire. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attacks.
An emergency hotline for the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council has been opened. The number to call is: 08-680-6450.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak ordered the IDF high command to respond to the attack "immediately" and to use "all necessary means." He added that he holds the Hamas terrorist organization "complete responsible for all attacks emanating from Gaza," which the group rules with an iron fist.
Within an hour, an Israel Air Force attack helicopter aimed machine gun fire at a target east of Gaza City for the first time since Israel's counter terrorism war against Hamas in the winter of 2008-2009, Operation Cast Lead. According to Gaza sources, one man was killed and five other people were injured. Hamas sources alleged that a child was among the wounded.
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