Man critically hurt as Qassams hit near Sderot

[Behind the Aegis]

A man was critically wounded early on Tuesday when a Qassam rocket fired from the Gaza Strip struck the Sha'ar Hanegev industrial zone near Sderot.

The rocket also started a fire in a factory in the zone, but fire-fighters quickly brought the blaze under control. Two more Qassams landed outside Sderot on Tuesday, but caused neither injuris nor damage.

A worker in the plant told Army Radio that the building had no defenses against rocket attacks, and that when an alertr was sounded, all that the employees could do was "pray to God that it would not hit them."

After the Qassam landed, a UN observer visiting Sderot left the town amid the protests of angry residents, Army Radio reported.


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[Behind the Aegis]

1. He's since died.

[IntiRaymi]

2. Are the Qassams getting more accurate?

The number of victims from them has gone up, or is that just an impression I have?

[Behind the Aegis]

3. Man dies of wounds sustained in Qassam strike on Sderot

An Israeli man died on Tuesday after sustaining critical wounds in a Qassam strike on the western Negev town of Sderot earlier in the day.

Yaakov Yaakobov, 43, was wounded when a rocket fired by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip came crashing through the roof and down to the lower story of the poultry packing plant in which he worked. The United Nations high commissioner for human rights, Louise Arbour, was visiting in Sderot at the time of the attack.

---snip---

A spokesman from the ruling Hamas' military wing told Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday that Palestinians would fire rockets at Sderot so long as Israeli attacks on Gaza continue.

Abu Obayed warned Israel to either call off military strikes or "empty Sderot of its residents." He added that the range and quality of Qassam rockets had improved.

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[IntiRaymi]

4. I don't think that lamenting this poor man's death

Can be done without also bringing up some 13 year old palestinian girl, shot by israeli snipers....not too long ago...

[Behind the Aegis]

8. Of course not.

An innocent's death is an innocent's death. But, try bring up his death in a Palestinian thread and see what responses you will get.

[IntiRaymi]

10. Well, they were both senseless deaths.

What palestinian thread?

[Behind the Aegis]

12. Yes, they were.

Any Palestinian thread where one has been killed, and mention the Israelis who have been victims and the number game will emerge.

[IntiRaymi]

14. The issue with the 'number game'

Is that to ignore the lopsidedness smacks of callousness, which is a surefire way to get flamed. People are quite appalled at palestinian suffering.
Not everyone shares your loyalties.

[Behind the Aegis]

18. Not a matter of sharing loyalties.

The 'number game' is quite popular here. However, like with many things, it is how it is viewed. Yes, more innocent Palestinians have died than innocent Israelis, but often the numbers that pop up here are the "grand total" of those killed by Israelis. Innocents and militants are included. This creates a very lop-sided picture. When the number of militants (Israeli and Palestinian) and the number of innocents (of both groups) are placed side by side, it is clear that Israeli innocents are a greater target. The deaths of Palestinian militants and innocents are almost equal, innocent deaths still being slightly higher. There is also the manner in which the innocents are killed. The Palestinians are usually caught in the middle of a battle, whereas the Israelis are victims of direct assaults. There are occasions where Palestinian innocents are killed through mistakes, maliciousness, and terrorism, but not at the same level as Israelis. So, whereas it may appear callous to "ignore" the lopsidedness of innocent Palestinian deaths, it is ignorant and inaccurate to ignore how and where those deaths occur.

[IntiRaymi]

21. The issue is the manner in which a 'militant' is defined.

This is Israel defining the status of the victim, in effect placing itself as Judge, Jury, and Executioner, all rolled into one. It is not a good idea to take this official stance in an unquestioning manner.

[Behind the Aegis]

24. Militant is usually the ones engaged in combat, no matter the weapon.

It isn't really difficult to figure out.

[IntiRaymi]

25. Israel is still abrogating for itself a right it should not have.

And you wonder why such arrogance incites such passion?

[Behind the Aegis]

26. Militants fight. Militants die.

That is the nature of conflict. If militants stopped fighting, they would stop dying. That is simplicity.

[pelsar]

5. the kassams...

since israel left gaza the smuggling has increased 10x (egypt does virtually nothing)....they now have better explosives, more stable, better metal (they used to use stolen israeli street signs) etc.

money instead of being spent on infrastructure is being spent on smuggling arms in.

they can now produce them and store them due to more stable explosives....also they're range is now increasing to 17-20km which will put major israeli cities in range......

it will be lebanon all over again, if the kassams reach kiryat gat, ashkelon in numbers.....i hope they decide upon a cease fire before that.....we wont stand for a repeat performance of missles on our cities

[IntiRaymi]

6. Do you suspect, as I do

That the Qassams are there purely for propaganda purposes?
To make life in Israel have the appearance of being miserable?

[Behind the Aegis]

7. Whose propaganda?

[IntiRaymi]

9. Palestinian, of course.

I think it is meant to stanch the immigration into Israel.
As a whole Qassams are not an effective killing weapon - it is a rarity that they hit AND kill...

[Behind the Aegis]

11. I could see that, but I don't think that is the case.

I don't think the Palestinians are thinking that far ahead, as to prevent immigration to Israel. Whether effective as a killing weapon, it still does kill, cause damage, and creates fear, therefore, it is still a useful weapon. I suppose it will be better once bigger and more lethal weapons are imported, thereby increasing the kill ration of Israelis.

[IntiRaymi]

13. Perhaps they are thinking that far ahead.

You are underestimating.
If silly little me can see this as a real utility, then why not Hamas? Those people are quite crafty.

[Behind the Aegis]

15. That is your opinion. While a possibility, I highly doubt it.

There is only thing on Hamas' mind and it isn't Israeli immigration issues. If anything, it is a possible "land grab" on their part. Clear out those settlements in Israel, and get them in negotiations later down the road.

[IntiRaymi]

16. Settlements in Israel? or Settlements in Palestine?

[Behind the Aegis]

19. in Israel.

[IntiRaymi]

20. Evil Palestinians 'colonizing' powerless Israeli citizens?

[Behind the Aegis]

23. Did I say *anything* remotely like that? No, I don't think so.

[pelsar]

17. its the only weapon availble....

that works.....they cant attack israel via the ground the border is well guarded, that leaves tunnels and missles. It has multiple uses...internally it shows the palestenians that certain groups are "fighting back"

externally for citizens of sederot who hear 10 sirens daily for the past months its frightening...as they wait the 45 seconds or less to hear the explosion (hamas has now said that if the israelis leave sederot they will stop shooting......as if sederot is now the problem)

and as the explosives are improved they will kill more then they have up until now..one good strike on an apt building will do wonders for their propaganda machine...

to answer your question: its as much propaganda as israeli raids are.....if one is, then so too is the other: missles with explosives can hardly be called "propaganda"

[IntiRaymi]

22. Hey, I'd be frightened also.

It's like winning the reverse lottery when you do get hit by one of those rockets. And they are not missiles, they are rockets. No on board guidance system (that I know of).