JERUSALEM (JTA) — More than 30 rockets and mortars were fired from the Gaza Strip at southern Israel.
The rockets fired Monday damaged an apartment building and killed several animals in a petting zoo. Some Israeli media put the number of rockets and mortars at more than 50.
The barrage of rockets came a day after the Israel Air Force targeted a motorcycle carrying two Palestinians that the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement had been planning an attack against Israel on the Sinai border. One was killed and the other seriously injured. Eleven others were wounded in the attack, including five children, according to the Palestinian Ma’an news service.
Residents of three communities in southern Israel on Monday were instructed to remain within 15 seconds of a safe room or shelter. Children were not in school due to the Simchat Torah holiday.
Hamas claimed responsibility for Monday’s rocket attacks, saying it was in response for Israel’s strike.
Israel responded Monday to the Hamas rocket attacks, targeting with tanks and planes what the IDF called "Hamas terror activity sites and terrorist squads responsible for the rocket fire from the Gaza Strip."
During 2012 more than 470 rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip at Israel.
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