Update 3/13/12

March 9–13

Palestinians have fired nearly 200 Grad missiles, rockets and mortars deep into Israel. Three civilians were wounded directly by the fire, one of them seriously. Additionally, 21 people suffered from shock and 11 were injured while fleeing for cover. Many of the Grad missiles launched at large cities were intercepted by missile defense system known as Iron Dome.

Most of the attacks followed an Israeli air strike on Zuhair al-Qaissi, commander of the armed wing of the Popular Resistance Committees, a terrorist group with close ties to Hamas, and Mahmoud Hanini, a top field commander in the group. Al-Qaissi had overseen the 2011 southern Israel cross-border attacks, which killed eight Israelis including six civilians. Israeli officials said that he was preparing the final stages of a new mega-attack that could have claimed multiple lives.

To protect students from the rockets, Israeli officials cancelled classes in most schools in the cities the Southern region and the Home Front Command barred all mass gatherings in southern Israeli communities. The Israel Police raised the level of alert around the country and foreign embassies, including the US Embassy, have issued travel warnings and emergency directions to Americans currently living in Israel.  A portion of that travel advisory is below.

Today, despite the so called ‘ceasefire’, seven rockets have been fired into the southern region. The news media refers to this as “relative calm”.

“I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalms 91:2

From: <amctelaviv@state.gov>
Date: Mon, Mar 12, 2012 at 6:07 PM
Subject: Embassy Tel Aviv Security Message, March 12, 2012
To: stewartinsderot@gmail.com

Security Message for American Citizens regarding Travel in Southern Israel, March 12, 2012

Violence continues to occur along the boundary between Israel and the Gaza Strip.  Terrorist groups fired rockets and mortars into Israel from Gaza over the weekend, and Israel continues to conduct military operations inside Gaza, including airstrikes.  In the past, some rockets have traveled more than 40 km (24 miles) from Gaza and landed as far north as Yavne and Gadera and as far east as Beersheva.  As a result of possible military operations by the Government of Israel in Gaza and the ever-present risk of rocket and mortar attacks into Israel from Gaza, U.S. government personnel travelling in the vicinity of the Gaza Strip boundary, including the city of Sderot, or traveling south of Beersheva,  must make prior notification to the Embassy's Regional Security Office.

U.S. citizens in southern Israel should be aware of the risks and should take note of announcements by the Government of Israel’s office of Homefront Command at: http://www.oref.org.il/315-en/PAKAR.aspx.  U.S. citizens are reminded to exercise caution and take appropriate measures to ensure their safety and security while traveling in this region, and should monitor local news sources to find the latest information on the situation, as it can change unexpectedly.