TEL AVIV – In a new development, Hamas today said it fired a rocket toward the Knesset in Jerusalem as residents in Israel's capital city were preparing for Shabbat.
Hamas also claimed to WND they were targeting the home of Israeli President Shimon Peres.
Abu Abdullah, a spokesman for Hamas's so-called military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, told WND: "This is not the end of the surprises we can have."
"In some circumstances, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem will not be the last station of our targets."
Air sirens were heard in Jerusalem and the surrounding areas today. Security sources confirmed one rocket had landed in the Jerusalem area.
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Hamas took responsibility for the rocket, saying it fired what Hamas is calling a Qassam M76, or upgraded Qassam rocket. Hamas said their target was the Knesset, Israel's parliament, as well as the official residence of Peres.
Earlier Friday, three Israeli civilians were lightly injured when a rocket hit the Eshkol Regional Council region near Gaza.
Yesterday, three Israelis were killed by a direct rocket hit on their family home in the Gaza border town of Kiryat Malakhi. A 4-year-old Israeli boy and an infant were moderately wounded in separate rocket attacks.
Meanwhile, Israel today took preparations for a possible ground operation into Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces said over 16,000 reservists have been mobilized out of the 30,000 approved by the Israeli government
The IDF told WND the Paratrooper and Givati Infantry brigades have completed what they say are final preparations for a potential ground operation. The forces are currently outside Gaza on standby awaiting orders.