Jerusalem – Four Killed, Several Wounded In Mortar Shell Attack On Southern Israel

Jerusalem – Four people were killed and several others were seriously wounded in a mortar attack in the Eshkol Region next to the Gaza border late Monday afternoon.

The attack moderately injured a number of other people. Emergency teams were evacuating those hurt to several hospitals. At least four were airlifted to Soroka University Medical Center in Beersheba.

None of those killed or hurt in the projectile attack were Eshkol residents, said a spokeswoman for the regional council.

Shortly after the mortar shell attack, the Code Red siren sounded in the area.

The head of the Eshkol Regional Council Haim Yellin urged civilians against visiting soldiers in the area.

Mortar shells and rockets have continued to be fired into the Eshkol Region throughout every ceasefire that has been called since Operation Protective Edge has begun. Mortars do not set off the Code Red rocket siren and typically fall without warning.

The first Israeli civilian fatality of the operation was Dror Hanin, killed by a mortar strike near the Erez Crossing on July 15th.