Woman injured in Kiryat Gat – first casualty of 2nd Palestinian rocket barrage

A woman was seriously injured in Kiryat Gat when, more than an hour after shooting more than 100 rockets into Israel, the Palestinians widened their reach Saturday afternoon to the Lachish region (59km NE of Gaza) – targeting the towns of Kiryat Malachi and Kiryat Gat – and still further northeast to Bet Shemes (77km) in the Jerusalem hills. Since the first round Saturday morning was directed at Gaza’s closest neighbors and the towns of Rehovot, Sderot, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Netivot and Ofakim, those towns have gone on a high preparedness for rocket attack. This morning, direct hits against incoming rockets by Dome batteries prevented casualties and major damage, except for one home and vehicles on the road. The Home Command has ordered local councils to open public shelters, cancel public events, including two soccer games, farmers were told stay away from their fields and all residents to stay close to sheltered areas.