JERUSALEM
The Israeli army said Monday that eight rockets fired from the Gaza Strip had been intercepted over southern Israel.
"Moments ago, the Iron Dome [anti-missile defense system] intercepted 5 rockets above Ashdod and 3 rockets above Ashkelon," the army said via Twitter.
Violence has engulfed the Palestinian territories since July 7, when Israel began its military onslaught on the Gaza Strip with the stated aim of halting rocket fire from the blockaded territory.
In the two weeks since, at least 509 Palestinians have been killed – mostly civilians – and more than 3150 injured in ferocious Israeli bombardments on the seaside enclave, which continued unabated on Monday.
Gaza-based Palestinian resistance factions, meanwhile, have continued to fire rockets at Israeli cities in response to the ongoing Israeli attacks.
At least 20 Israeli soldiers have also been killed since the self-proclaimed Jewish state commenced ground operations in Gaza late Thursday.
By Abdel-Raouf Arnaout
www.aa.com.tr/en
