The security situation in southern Israel deteriorated rapidly overnight, beginning with a Palestinian terror attempt that was blocked by the IDF. The IAF targeted Gaza-based terrorists Tala’at Halil Muhammad Jarbi and Abdullah Muhammad Hassan Maqawai, both of whom had extensive history and involvement in terror activity and at least one of whom whose “complex attack intended to take place along the Sinai border.” Multiple Palestinian terror groups, led by Hamas, then launched rocket salvos, including at least 55 rockets and mortars, at Israeli communities. Palestinian groups from Gaza have long targeted schoolchildren with rocket fire, deliberately timing launches for when students are going to school. This weekend’s attacks included hitting a children’s petting zoo, killing a number of animals. Terrorists in Gaza have fired over 600 rockets, mortars and missiles into Israel since the beginning of the year.

[Photo: Matanya / WikiCommons]