A missile was launched and intercepted above central Israel on Tuesday evening as the fighting between Israel and Hamas intensified, Israeli military sources confirmed to Xinhua.

Sirens sounded off in Tel Aviv and its surroundings for the first time since Operation Pillar of Defense in November 2012. No injuries were reported.

The missile targeting central Israel signals militants are intensifying their fighting as Israel undertakes an aggressive military offensive dubbed, Operation Protective Edge, with massive air strikes carried out by the Israeli Air Force in the Gaza Strip in response to the incessant rocket fire.

The Tel Aviv municipality opened its public shelters and authorities closed the Sde Dov domestic airport, a spokesperson for the Airport Authority told Xinhua. He added there might be disruptions to the Ben Gurion International Airport's schedule due to the situation.

Earlier on Tuesday, sirens could be heard in areas including Rehovot, Mazkeret Batye and Yavne, located about 40 km south of Israel and major southern cities like Be'er Sheva, Ashkelon and Ashdod. No casualties from the rockets were reported.

Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon told reporters on Tuesday that the operation will not end soon and prepare Israel's Home Front Command for possible rocket fire, including in central Israel.

Security officials told Israeli media they expected Hamas to demonstrate its ballistic capabilities with missiles ranging up to 80 km.

Israel's Security cabinet decided to recruit 40,000 reserve soldiers to take over units of active soldiers, as the latter would move on to the Gaza Strip border in southern Israel.

Operation Protective Edge kicked off early Tuesday after massive rocket fire from the Gaza Strip aimed at southern Israeli communities throughout the past three weeks. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson, more than 300 rockets were fired from the strip towards Israel in recent weeks. More than 130 rockets were launched aiming for southern communities since Monday night.

The Israeli Air Force targeted more than 150 sites in the Gaza Strip in a massive campaign since early Tuesday. Palestinian media reported that more than 13 people were killed in the airstrikes, among them two children, as well as Muhamad Sha'aban, 24, a Hamas naval commander. Seven Palestinians were killed in a single air raid on a Gazan building on Tuesday afternoon.

Security officials said that the operation might develop into a ground operation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday morning he instructed the military to "take their gloves off" against Hamas.

The Home Front declared a "special situation" in towns located in a 40 km range within the Gaza Strip. The Iron Dome anti-missile battery intercepted over five missiles heading towards the cities of Beer Sheva, Ashdod and Ashkelon.

The operation takes place nearly two years after Operation Pillar of Defense, which took place in November 2012 and included missiles launched throughout Israel and heavy air strikes in Gaza.

This past weekend, hard-line members of Netanyahu's security cabinet leveled criticism at the prime minister over what they considered to be a "tepid" military response to the Gaza rocket attacks.

Right-wing ministers argued that Israel must use deterrence to fend off Hamas rockets and show power. Others, like Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, a long-time advocate for large-scale military action in Gaza, alluded to the need of a massive ground operation to halt Hamas rocket fire.

Tensions in Israel have been high since three Israeli teenagers were kidnapped and killed last month. Israel blamed Hamas for the abduction, without offering evidence, and launched a wide-scale crackdown on the group. Then last week, an Arab teenager was abducted, tortured, and killed in what many describe as a "revenge " murder, fuelling clashes between security forces and Palestinian protesters and further polarizing Israelis and Palestinians. Endi

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)