An Israeli was killed when a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip struck a four-story building in Rehovot, 12 miles south of Tel Aviv, on Thursday evening.
The victim’s body was reportedly found under the rubble.
It is the first Israeli fatality since the start of “Operation Shield and Arrow” against Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip.
Five other people were wounded in the rocket attack.
Police officers were searching the site and sappers were removing parts of the rocket. Authorities reiterated calls for civilians to follow the relevant safety guidelines. The rocket fire was the first directed towards central Israel since the previous day.
[video width="640" height="368" mp4="https://cdn.jns.org/uploads/2023/05/VID-20230511-WA0113.mp4"][/video]
Closer to the Gaza Strip, a foreign worker was hurt by shrapnel from the latest barrage on the Eshkol region. He was treated at the scene and taken to the hospital. His condition was not immediately clear.
An 82-year-old woman was lightly wounded by shrapnel in the Sdot Negev region. According to the Magen David Adom emergency medical service, the rocket hit outside a home. The woman was taken to Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva.
Another direct hit in Sderot failed to injure anyone.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant requested on Wednesday Cabinet approval to extend the emergency declaration in force for communities situated within 40 kilometers (25 miles) of Gaza to all those located within 80 km. of the terrorist enclave.
The extension of the status would enable the IDF to determine safety guidelines for the civilian population, prevent large gatherings and close relevant sites in parts of central Israel, including in Tel Aviv.
The Israel Air Force on Thursday afternoon killed a fifth PIJ terrorist leader since the start of “Operation Shield and Arrow.” Ahmed Abu-Deka, a senior member of the Islamic Jihad rocket-aunching force, was targeted.
As of 2:30 p.m., the Israel Defense Forces reported that Gaza terrorists had fired 547 rockets and mortar shells at Israel since Tuesday morning. Out of these 547 launches, 394 projectiles crossed into Israeli territory and 124 fell short in Gaza. Four Palestinian civilians, including a 10-year-old girl, were killed by the failed rocket launches, according to the IDF.
Israeli aerial defenses intercepted 175 rockets on their way to populated areas.
The IDF said it targeted 166 terrorist sites in the Gaza Strip since the start of the military operation.
