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Last update - 20:22 14/05/2008
Gaza rocket hits Ashkelon mall; several people hurt
By The Associated Press
Tags: Gaza Strip, Ashkelon 

A rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, apparently a Katyusha-type rocket, exploded in a shopping center in the southern city of Ashkelon on Wednesday, wounding at least ten people.

According to preliminary reports, three of the injured were in serious condition, two were in moderate condition and at least eleven suffered minor wounds.

A woman and her young daughter were seriously wounded, along with another child, said Leah Malul of Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon. The eight-year-old girl and the woman, both suffering from severe head trauma, were transferred to a hospital in central Israel for further treatment due to the seriousness of their condition.
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Witnesses told Israeli radio stations that the rocket caused considerable damage. Rescue service director Eli Bean said at least two people were trapped under the rubble.

The rocket hit the third floor of the Hutzot mall. A clinic which takes up part of the floor took the brunt of the hit. A hospital official said two children were brought to the emergency room.

The Hutzot shopping center is frequented by an average of 10,000 people daily.

Ashkelon residents at the scene reported that there had been no warning siren to alert the shoppers of the incoming rocket. Military sources said that the siren system meant to alert residents of incoming strikes had been turned off in recent days after an unusually high number of false alarms that caused unnecessary panic among the residents of the town. The sources said that the decision to turn off the sirens was made in coordination with security and government bodies.

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command said its fighters launched the rocket, one of an almost daily pattern of militant attacks from the Palestinian enclave.

The homemade rockets militants usually fire at Israel do not have enough range to reach Ashkelon. Instead, militants use Grad-type Katyusha rockets to hit the city of 100,000, about 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the Gaza-Israel border.

The rocket attack came as U.S. President George W. Bush wrapped up talks in Jerusalem with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Referring to the earlier attacks, Olmert blamed the militant Islamic Hamas rulers of Gaza.

Speaking before learning of the attack on Ashkelon, Olmert said that "we will not be able to tolerate continuous attacks on innocent civilians. We hope we will not have to act against Hamas in other ways with the military power that Israel hasn't yet started to use in a serious manner in order to stop it."

Casualties have mounted recently from the daily rocket attacks by Palestinian militants on Israeli communities outside Gaza. Two Israeli civilians were killed during the last week.


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  1.   Hurry Vilnai,stop the rockets by "gestures" as you promised 18:24  |  Absolute Sweden 14/05/08
  2.   Once again, what will it take? 18:29  |  Gilles 14/05/08
  3.   residents of ashkelon,time to join residents of gush katiff 18:32  |  chaim schonbrun 14/05/08
  4.   How many of the injured 18:33  |  Rachel Stevens 14/05/08
  5.   This is getting ridiculous! 18:34  |  NYC 14/05/08
  6.   Pals have few days left... 18:34  |  Smile 14/05/08
  7.   Move the Knesset to Sderot 18:34  |  Murray the Mongoose 14/05/08
  8.   a unique window of opportunity 18:38  |  Leon Rosgarten 14/05/08
  9.   This was Hamas`s expression of good will for the cease fire that 18:39  |  Arnon 14/05/08
  10.   WORDS, WORDS, WORDS 18:39  |  DISRAELI 14/05/08
  11.   Only one country would allow this to happen to its citizens 18:39  |  Allon 14/05/08
  12.   to rachel 18:41  |  Tamar 14/05/08
  13.   Rachel your answer 18:41  |  miche norman 14/05/08
  14.   When will Haaretz call them terrorists ?.. Never !! 18:41  |  Yisrael 14/05/08
  15.   Innocent babies suffer 18:42  |  Alex 14/05/08
  16.   Russian-type Katusha in Ashkelon! 18:42  |  Vital 14/05/08
  17.   Unfathomable 18:42  |  Miche norman 14/05/08
  18.   Rocket hits Ashkelon mall 18:45  |  Rick 14/05/08
  19.   No one to blame but Israel: Free Gaza 18:46  |  Palestinian in UK 14/05/08
  20.   Thanks to disengagement 18:46  |  Dani 14/05/08
  21.   CCTV proves the Zionists did it to themselves 18:47  |  Chanalau, Tova 14/05/08
  22.   The price of doing nothing 18:48  |  Cheryl Tweedy 14/05/08
  23.   Miche norman 18:49  |  palestine 14/05/08
  24.   The Murderous Criminal Arabs are at it again, in India it was 100 18:49  |  Genuine Tosefta 14/05/08
  25.   Once and for all, STOP IT HAMAS !!!!! 18:50  |  Swiss (Dino) 14/05/08
  26.   #13 miche norman 18:50  |  Elizabeth Weir 14/05/08
  27.   Katyusha 18:50  |  Wiseman 14/05/08
  28.   what no Durson? No Idrayaja ? No pity for children? 18:50  |  Robert/Montreal 14/05/08
  29.   The Powerful Recoil Action Of Every Shot Hamas Fires Only Results 18:51  |  Lavi 14/05/08
  30.   Rachel Stevens 18:53  |  Sar Chasm 14/05/08
  31.   Arabs commit war crimes..try them! 18:55  |  David 14/05/08
  32.   19, when a tank shell kills 20 in Gaza I`ll say the same of Gazan 18:55  |  Allon 14/05/08
  33.   #NYC Yes, sure, this is getting rediculous! 18:55  |  Dutch Dirk 14/05/08
  34.   Explanation needed 18:56  |  Miche Norman 14/05/08
  35.   Rachel stevens 18:56  |  x-ray 14/05/08
  36.   So stupid and cruel 18:57  |  Aphemia 14/05/08
  37.   chanalau -get real 18:59  |  Miche Norman 14/05/08
  38.   #19 - Palestinian in UK 19:02  |  MichaelF 14/05/08
  39.   What is happening? Why is this tolerated? Unreal? 19:02  |  Johnny 14/05/08
  40.   It`s irresponsible to allow the sick from Gaza to come any longer 19:02  |  MR 14/05/08
  41.   They are getting better at firing missiles 19:06  |  Chris Linthwaite 14/05/08
  42.   But Olmert enjoyed his lunch and counted his money .. 19:07  |  redmike 14/05/08
  43.   #38 - Well said MichaelF 19:08  |  ScotGuy 14/05/08
  44.   #19 - Palestinian in UK to Michael F 19:13  |  JIM 14/05/08
  45.   Numebrs for 19 19:15  |  Miche Norman 14/05/08
  46.   #38 MichaelF 19:15  |  Rachel Stevens 14/05/08
  47.   CHris Linthwaite 19:17  |  Allon 14/05/08
  48.   Jim - free travel 19:19  |  Miche Norman 14/05/08
  49.   Israel is acting like a paper tiger. 19:20  |  R 14/05/08
  50.   Palestinian in UK 19:21  |  Gideon 14/05/08
  51.   Responde to Palestinian in UK to Michael F 19:21  |  Dafna 14/05/08
  52.   Here is the explanation for Palestinian supporters (u 2 Pal Brit) 19:22  |  Joe Sittizen 14/05/08
  53.   Not one Arab left winger regretting the damage 19:22  |  x-ray 14/05/08
  54.   Fatally thumbing their noses... 19:23  |  Esther 14/05/08
  55.   #47 Allon 19:23  |  Chris Linthwaite 14/05/08
  56.   Responde to Palestinian in UK to Michael F 19:32  |  JIM 14/05/08
  57.   #44 re #19 19:33  |  Stella 14/05/08
  58.   #4 Rachel Stevens on army-service 19:36  |  AliciaYasmeen 14/05/08
  59.   when are we going to respond or else change government 19:38  |  ralph 14/05/08
  60.   Why are Israelis/Jews qvetching now? 19:41  |  common sense 14/05/08
  61.   32 Allon: at least you`re right about the kill ratio 19:47  |  Palestinian in UK 14/05/08
  62.   to Dutch Dirk -Meer zeinin dah we are here 19:47  |  berl 14/05/08
  63.   JIM 44 19:56  |  ChanahS 14/05/08
  64.   to #19 19:57  |  Leah 14/05/08
  65.   No alarmt Ceva-Adom 19:58  |  Yuriy 14/05/08
  66.   Opps, What shall I send now, Congratulation, or condoleances, and 20:02  |  Simon Mohammed 14/05/08
  67.   # 25 Swiss....and your financial institutions 20:02  |  Lynn 14/05/08
  68.   Actions speak louder than words 20:03  |  Jon 14/05/08
  69.   It is stupid, irresponsible and criminal to let it go on 20:04  |  Ronnie 14/05/08
  70.   OLMERT MUST BE TRIED FOR HIGH TREASON AND EXECUTED 20:08  |  Freethinker 14/05/08
  71.   OLMERT MUST BE TRIED FOR HIGH TREASON AND EXECUTED 20:08  |  Freethinker 14/05/08
  72.   #44 Michael 20:08  |  Marc