JERUSALEM
The Israeli army said Wednesday that at least 213 rockets had been fired from the Gaza Strip at Israel since the collapse of a temporary ceasefire with Palestinian factions in the Palestinian enclave on Tuesday.
A barrage of rockets was fired late Wednesday at Eshkol Regional Council and Ashdod in the south, but left no casualties or damage, the army said in a statement.
At least 163 rockets were fired at Israeli territory on Wednesday alone, prompting the rocket sirens to wail in several areas across the country, it noted.
The Israeli troops, for their part, hit 110 targets in Gaza since Tuesday, the army said.
Violence flared up again in the region on Tuesday when Israel accused Palestinian factions in Gaza of firing rockets at Israeli cities despite an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire.
Since then, Israel launched several attacks across the Gaza Strip, leaving at least 23 Palestinians dead. Palestinian factions, for their part, fired several salvos of rockets at Israeli cities.
Palestinian and Israeli negotiations held indirect talks in Cairo for reaching a permanent ceasefire, but the two sides failed to achieve any progress.
Since hostilities began on July 7, at least 2049 Palestinians have been killed and more than 10,000 others injured in relentless Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
According to Israeli figures, at least 67 Israelis – 64 soldiers and three civilians – have been killed.
Since 2007, the Gaza Strip has reeled under a crippling Israeli blockade that has badly affected the local economy and played havoc with residents' livelihoods.
By Alaa Rimawi
www.aa.com.tr/en
