02 May 2023 | 02:54 PM UTC
Israel, PT: Multiple rockets launched from Gaza Strip towards Southern District, May 2; three foreign nationals injured /update 1
Rocket attacks wound three foreign nationals in Sderot, Israel, May 2. Retaliatory strikes almost certain.
Event
Gaza-based militants launched at least 21 rockets toward communities in Israel's Southern District on May 2. Rocket sirens sounded in several areas, including Sufa, Nir Itzhak, Sdeh, and Avrahm, along the border with the Gaza Strip. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) intercepted most of the projectiles. One rocket reportedly landed near a residential area in Sderot, wounding three Chinese nationals working at a construction site. The rocket attacks come following the death of a Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) leader in Israeli custody on May 2 after an 86-day hunger strike.
Israeli forces will almost certainly launch retaliatory strikes on suspected militant targets in the Gaza Strip. Heightened security measures are likely in the Southern District over the coming hours. Gaza-based militants may fire additional rockets at communities in southern Israel over the coming days; precautionary measures, such as evacuations, are possible in affected areas.
Advice
Monitor local media and abide by security forces' directives. If incoming mortar rounds or rockets are reported or warning sirens sound in the general vicinity, report to the nearest bomb shelter and await further instructions from authorities. If there is no shelter nearby, stay indoors, away from windows and exterior walls. If possible, move to a ground floor or basement.
