Rocket Fired from Gaza Strikes Home in Southern Israel

The Fellowship | February 17, 2018

LEBANON-SYRIA-ISRAEL-CONFLICT — A picture taken on February 10, 2018, shows the remains of a missile that landed in the southern Lebanese village of Kaoukaba, near the border with Syria, after Israel's military attacked 12 Syrian and Iranian targets inside Syria in what it described as "large-scale" raids following an exchange of fire earlier in the day. The exchange of fire was the most serious between arch foes Israel and Iran since the start of the civil war in Syria in 2011. / AFP PHOTO / Ali DIA (Photo credit should read ALI DIA/AFP/Getty Images)

As rocket warning sirens sound in southern Israel, we received this update from our Israel staff:

On Saturday four Israeli soldiers were wounded – two seriously and two others moderately – when a device exploded near the troops at the fence bordering the southern Gaza Strip. The wounded soldiers were evacuated to Soroka Medical Center in Beer Sheva with burns and shrapnel injuries. This hospital is equipped with life-saving emergency equipment provided by The Fellowship. The soldiers are in stable condition.

In retaliation for this hostile attack, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) struck six Hamas targets in Gaza in what was described as a “large-scale attack.” Meanwhile, a rocket fired from the Strip hit the roof of a house in Shaar HaNegev after sirens sounded in several Israeli communities near the border; the military later stated that the first round of siren alerts was a false alarm.

The Fellowship has built and equipped thousands of bomb shelters in southern Israel ensuring safety of civilians. Our staff is already reaching out to all those who have been affected by the attacks and offered assistance to all those who need it.

Coincidentally, Rabbi Eckstein is scheduled to dedicate The Fellowship’s new Shaar HaNegev Trauma Center tomorrow at midday. We are awaiting confirmation from the IDF that they will permit the ceremony to take place, given the frequently sounded Red Alert sirens that have become very frequent in recent hours.

Please keep the people of Israel in your prayers.