time for a 55 gallon drum of Kosher WhupassAt least 14 people were wounded Wednesday evening, including a baby girl and her mother, when a Grad rocket fired from Gaza hit the Hutzot Shopping Center in Ashkelon.
MDA said that the baby was listed in moderate condition, her mother and two others were seriously wounded, two people were in moderate condition and nine people, including two children, were lightly hurt. Dozens of people were treated for shock. The casualties were evacuated to the city's Barzilai Hospital.
The rocket hit the top floor of the building, where offices and clinics are located, and the shopping mall sustained considerable damage. Rescue service director Eli Bean said at least two people were trapped under the rubble. They were later rescued and taken to the hospital.
Witnesses said an early warning siren meant to give a few seconds for people to take cover did not sound before the rocket slammed into the mall.
Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the rocket attack in a statement on its Web site.
| Guess they're not covered under the Hamas hudna ... |
Olmert said at the end of the talks that Israel would not tolerate attacks from Gaza terrorists. "We will not be able to tolerate continuous attacks on innocent civilians. We hope we will not have to act against Hamas in other ways with the military power that Israel hasn't yet started to use in a serious manner in order to stop it," said Olmert before learning of the attack on Ashkelon.
| Except that you have been tolerating it, which over time tends to undercut your message ... |