Hamas Qassam Rocket Knocks Out Electricity in Sderot, Southern Israel

Hamas terrorists fired a salvo of ten short-range Qassam rockets at the southern Israeli city of Sderot this evening (Feb. 5), hitting a high-tension power line. The leaders of Hamas, a terrorist organization that seeks the destruction of Israel [1] and seized control of the Gaza Strip in June 2007 [2], “take their directives from Teheran,” according to Jordanian King Abdallah II. [3] A spokesman from the Israel Electric Company said that large parts of the city of 24,000 residents are experiencing an electricity blackout. [4]

Electricity from Israel’s central grid continues to flow uninterrupted to the Gaza Strip. On average, Israel supplies between 100-120 Megawatts of electricity to Gaza, approximately 65 percent of its requirements. [5]

One woman was moderately hurt by shrapnel after a direct rocket hit on her house. Two other residents were treated for smoke inhalation. [6]

Mari Ochana, a 59-year-old resident of Sderot said, “I am scared to leave my home. We feel vulnerable to more rocket attacks.” [7]

More than 500 rockets and mortars have been fired by Palestinian terrorists from Gaza since Jan. 1, 2008. [8]
More than 4,000 rockets and mortar shells have been fired at Israeli cities, towns and communities since Israel complete disengagement from Gaza in Aug. 2005. [9]
More than 2,300 rockets and mortar shells were fired from Gaza at Israeli towns and communities in 2007. [10]
Thirteen people have been killed by the rocket and mortar fire and more than 300 have been injured. [11]
Journalists who wish to be embedded/interview Sderot residents or require expert sources should contact The Israel Project’s Jerusalem office:

Tel: +972-2-623-6427
Communications Director Eli Ovits: +972-54-807-9093
Email: elio@theisraelproject.org

Footnotes
[1] “The Covenant of Hamas: Main Points,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Aug. 18, 1988, http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/1980_1989/THE%20COVENANT%20OF%20THE%20HAMAS%20-%20MAIN%20POINTS%20-%2018-Aug-8

[2] “Hamas Coup in Gaza, ” The International Institute for Strategic Studies Web site, June 2007, http://www.iiss.org/publications/strategic-comments/past-issues/volume-13---2007/volume-13--issue-5--june-2007/hamas-coup-in-gaza

[3] “King Abdallah II: Hamas takes its directives from Teheran,” Press Release, Feb. 5, 2008, http://www.theisraelproject.org/atf/cf/{84DC5887-741E-4056-8D91-A389164BC94E}/ABDULLAH PRESS RELEASE 3.DOC

[4] Israel Electric Company Spokesman, Feb. 5, 2008 and Hadad, Shmulik, “Woman moderately injured in rocket attack,” YnetNews, Feb. 5, 2008

[5] Israel Electric Company Spokesman, Feb. 5, 2008

[6] “Hadad, Shmulik, “Woman moderately injured in rocket attack,” YnetNews, Feb. 5, 2008

[7] Conversation with Mari Ochana, 59, Sderot resident, Feb. 5, 2008

[8] IDF Spokesman’s Unit, Feb. 2, 2008

[9] IDF Spokesman’s Unit, Jan. 2 and Jan. 20, 2008

[10] IDF Spokesman’s Unit, Dec. 31, 2007

[11] Israel Police Spokesman Micky Rosenfeld, Dec. 5, 2007

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