Palestinian terrorists in Gaza fired a Grad rocket towards Ashdod Tuesday night, marking the first time the Israeli city has been targeted since Operation Cast Lead.
The rocket apparently landed in an open area south of Ashdod. There were no reports of injury or damage. Security forces were searching for the rocket's exact landing site. A 56-year old man was lightly injured early Wednesday morning when a Grad rocket fired from Gaza exploded in Beersheba.
Four hours later, another Grad rocket hit open spaces near the southern city. Security forces are still looking for the rocket. Several mortar shells also exploded in Eshkol Regional Council, but no injuries or damage were reported.
Tuesday was one of the more turbulent days Israel has seen since the war against Hamas during the winter of 2008–2009 ended. In response to a mortar attack on the Negev, the IDF shelled a neighborhood in Gaza and accidentally killed a number of civilians, including two youths, aged 11 and 16, and two men, aged 20 and 50.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Wednesday addressed the ongoing rocket and mortar fire coming from the Gaza Strip and IDF artillery and air strikes in response. He was expected to convene his national security council before departing for Russia Wednesday evening.
"The IDF is acting and will act against the terror organizations in Gaza, We will firmly and decisively defend our citizens."
"No country would be prepared to absorb the firing of rockets on its cities and citizens."
"Perhaps it will come to exchanging blows, it may continue for some time, but we are very determined to take away the terrorist organizations' ability to harm our citizens."
The prime minister was expected convene his national security council to formulate a response to the escalation in Gaza later on Wednesday before departing for Russia.