Another day, another Qassam - Hamas celebrates prisoner release with fireworks

Twenty Arab prisoners were  released today in return for a one minute video of Gilad Shalit. At the same time, a Qassam rocket was fired from Gaza. Probably a coincidence, since such rockets are always being fired from Gaza. 

     
Qassam hits southern Israel in continuing Gaza border tension
By Haaretz Service

 

Palestinian militants fired a Qassam rocket into the western Negev early Friday morning, in another of several recent incidents along the border with the Gaza Strip.

 

The rocket, which did not trigger the regional warning system, known as 'Color Red' alert, struck an open field in Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council.

 

No damages or injuries were reported.
 

 

Later in the morning, the 'Color Red' alert was sounded, in what later turned out as a false alarm.

 

On Wednesday, the Israel Air Force struck smuggling tunnels along the Gaza-Egypt border, just hours after Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip fired a Qassam rocket into the western Negev.

 

The rocket, fired earlier in the night, struck an open area in the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council. No injuries were reported.

 

The night-time exchanges came after IAF planes had attacked smuggling tunnels in the southern part of the Strip earlier Wednesday, in response to rocket fire and shots fired by Gaza militants at IDF soldiers along the border fence, Israel Radio reported.

 

The rocket attacks caused neither caused casualties nor property damage, according to Army Radio. The first reportedly struck in the Eshkol region, and the second hit an open field north of Gaza.

 

In another recent incident, IAF jets destroyed a rocket launcher ready for action in the northern Strip on Tuesday.

 

The IAF confirmed that the launcher was hit and destroyed.