Several others suffer from shock; 1 rocket hits electric pole, causing blackout.
homemade kassam 298(photo credit: AP)By JOSH BRANNON, JPOST STAFFEven as IDF forces were massing in large numbers on Gaza's border for a possible ground incursion to rescue kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit, three Kassam rockets were fired from Gaza into Israel Monday evening.
Two landed in open areas in the western Negev, but the third struck a power pole in Sderot.
As a result of the hit, four people were lightly injured from shrapnel, and were taken to Ashkelon's Barzilai Hospital. Sderot Spokesman Yossi Cohen said that in the course of the evening, a total of 11 people had been treated for shock. At least one person also suffered from cardiological distress as a result of the latest Kassam barrage.
The rocket caused damage to the electrical lines causing a power outage throughout the city, according to the report.
Sderot municipality authorities said they were working to restore power to the Kassam-struck city in Israel's south.
Meanwhile, a spontaneous protest rally gathered outside the home of Sderot resident, Defense Minister Amir Peretz.
The rocket fire comes as Islamic Jihad claimed to have developed a new longer-range rocket to be used against Israeli targets, Channel 1 reported. The groups said the new "Quds 4" projectile has a range of 20 kilometers, three times longer then the crude Kassam rockets.
On Sunday, Fatah announced that they had biological and chemical weapons capabilities. They said that they would not hesitate to use unconventional warheads on missiles.RECOMMENDED STORIESAt least 70 wounded, two killed after four rounds of Iranian attack slam IsraelJUNE 12, 2025Israel trying to persuade US to join in continuing strikes on Iran, sources tell 'Post'JUNE 13, 2025Vacation ruse, phantom trip, hostage decoy: How Israel misled Tehran before Iran strikeJUNE 13, 2025Mossad leads series of secret attack operations in heart of IranJUNE 13, 2025