Fatalities occurred in direct strike on packing plant on moshav; all casualties are foreign workers from Thailand; Ashdod and Be’er Sheva also targeted in fresh barrage; Kerem Shalom Crossing under fire as it opens to allow medical, food supplies into Hamas-run Strip
Some of the wounded were airlifted to Soroka Medical Center in Be’er Sheva for treatment.
Eshkol Regional Council head Gadi Yarkoni said the moshav that was hit did not have bomb shelters.
“We have been demanding the government provide adequate protection for our residents who are under constant threat from Gaza,” he said.
A rocket also hit an apartment block under construction in the city of Ashdod, as massive barrages were fired at the south. There were no injuries initially reported.
Rockets also targeted Be’er Sheva, where the Iron Dome missile defense system was able to intercept the fire.
Earlier Tuesday afternoon, a 19-year-old IDF soldier was lightly wounded in heavy mortar fire from the Gaza Strip at the Erez Crossing between Israel and the Hamas-run enclave.
The military said he was preparing trucks carrying humanitarian aid into the Strip when he was hurt.
The wounded soldier was taken to Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon.
Residents of the Israeli communities within a 4km range of the Gaza border were ordered into bomb shelters at 1pm Tuesday until further notice.
The order came as Gaza terror groups resumed heavy rocket and mortar fire on the area following a six-hour lull.
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