Injuries reported after rockets fired from Gaza, as Bahrain & UAE sign peace deal with Tel Aviv at the White House
Multiple rockets have been fired from Gaza towards Israeli cities during the UAE-Bahrain peace deal signing in Washington. Israeli anti-aircraft defenses have been activated, and at least six people were reportedly injured.
Rocket warning sirens were activated in southern Israeli cities late on Tuesday, as the ceremony to sign a US-brokered deal between Tel Aviv, Bahrain, and the UAE was underway in Washington.
The sirens were sounded in the coastal cities of Ashkelon and Ashdod. Footage from the scene shows damaged vehicles and shattered glass at the site of the rocket impact.
From the scene of the rocket impact in Ashdod, at least 2 injuries. pic.twitter.com/BByM2HClBf
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) September 15, 2020
Video from the scene in Ashdod where two people have been injured from shrapnel, one in light condition one in moderate condition. pic.twitter.com/MXYvY9kZyk
— Anna Ahronheim (@AAhronheim) September 15, 2020
Local volunteer medics said they treated six people for injuries sustained in the attack, and a further six were given assistance for "emotional or psychological shock."
United Hatzalah volunteers in Ashdod treated 6 people who were injured as a result of a rocket attack from Gaza. Additionally, the PCRU treated another 6 people who suffered from emotional or psychological shock as a result of the attack. #Gaza#RocketAttack#Israel#Ashdodpic.twitter.com/NjSyss9y5v
— United Hatzalah (@UnitedHatzalah) September 15, 2020
Video from the impact scene in Ashdod, #Israelpic.twitter.com/8wJBzpQUzG
— Aurora Intel (@AuroraIntel) September 15, 2020
The Israel Defense Forces has said it registered two launches from the Gaza Strip, adding that one of the projectiles was intercepted.
Footage circulating online purportedly shows the moment when the rocket was intercepted.
Gaza right now. Hamas rockets in response to peace deal being signed in White House pic.twitter.com/zgr0LDzUqh
— Jake Wallis Simons (@JakeWSimons) September 15, 2020
Hamas, the Islamist militant and political faction that governs Gaza, issued a statement following the initial barrage of rocket fire, saying the agreements between Israel, the UAE and Bahrain are not “worth the ink spilled or the paper [they were] signed on,” adding that “the Palestinian people are determined to continue the struggle to get all of their rights.”
The rocket attacks were renewed on Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning, with the IDF reporting that 15 projectiles were fired from the Palestinian enclave, setting off sirens in some communities in southern Israel. At least eight of the rockets were intercepted, while the rest detonated in open areas, according to local media reports.
In response, the military said it bombed “about ten terrorist targets,” including what it described as a Hamas explosives “factory,” as well as a military compound used for training.
Terrorists in Gaza have fired 15 rockets at Israel since last night.In response, our Air Force just struck Hamas targets in Gaza including a weapons & explosives manufacturing factory and a military compound. We will continue to operate against any attempts to attack Israel.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) September 16, 2020
Footage purporting to capture the IDF strikes has been circulating on social media, showing bright blasts lighting up the night sky.
IAF airstrike this evening against a militant site in the #Gaza Strip in response to rocket fire earlier in the evening. #Israelpic.twitter.com/vMp4XwmvKx
— Joe Truzman (@Jtruzmah) September 16, 2020
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