Hamas claims responsibility for Kassam barrage on Sderot
May 17, 2007

Sderot has come under attack since Tuesday night (May 15), with a barrage of over 60 Kassam rockets landing in the town and surrounding area. Two women were seriously wounded by direct hits on their homes, and many were treated for injuries and shock. Another rocket hit a high school near Sapir College (May 17). Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Above: Israeli firefighter in high school classroom in Sderot hit by a rocket fired by Palestinian terrorists, May 17, 2007 (Photo: Reuters)

FM Livni (May 16): "We expect the international community to demand of the Palestinian authority and the Palestinians to stop this violence against innocent civilians in Israel." (Full statement)

PM Olmert (May 16): "The Hamas government is behind the terrorist actions and it cannot be that it also seeks international recognition and economic assistance from the nations of the world." The IDF has been authorized to carry out a series of actions to strike at those who launch Kassam missiles and their commanders, to disrupt launch capabilities and to strike at terrorist infrastructures. (Text of communique)

IDF Spokesman (May 17): "Following continuous launchings of rockets into Israel and other terrorist activities executed by Hamas and other terror organizations, the IDF carried out during the day four aerial attacks against terrorists in Gaza City, in the northern Gaza Strip." (Text of communique)

IDF Spokesman (May 18): "Close to 30 Kassam rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip into Israel in the past 24 hours, two of which hit a school and a synagogue in Sderot." (Text of communique)