Early September 11, Islamic Jihad fired a rocket at the Zikkim training base in southern Israel.  The rocket landed, around 1:30am, amidst canvas tents that housed new recruits training at the base.  Israeli military officials stated that one soldier was critically wounded, four were in serious condition, seven were moderately injured, and 57 received only minor injuries.  It is the largest number of casualties sustained in a single rocket attack from Gaza.

The base is located just 1km north of the Israel-Gaza border.  A mother of a recruit spoke on Israeli radio how her son complained that the base was constantly peppered by crude rockets from Gaza.  While there is a concrete wall around the base, the recruits sleep in tents, which offer little protection from rocket attacks.  Parents of the recruits argue that there is insufficient protection for their children given the high probability of a rocket attack from Gaza.

The majority of the injuries resulted from flying shrapnel.  However, the source of the shrapnel is debated.  The spokesperson for the Islamic Jihad, “Abu Hamza”, stated that the group fired a Quds missile.  A Quds missile is larger and has a longer range than a Qassam rocket, which the most frequent type of rocket fired into Israel.  Hamza also reported that the missile was packed with shrapnel so that it would inflict the maximum number of casualties.

While the Islamic Jihad and the Popular Resistance Committee, an umbrella group of Palestinian militants, claim responsibility for the attack, Israel blames Hamas.  Tzipi Livni, the Israeli foreign minister, stated that “it doesn’t matter which terror group took responsibility. Gaza is totally controlled by Hamas, and it has the ability to stop this and decided not to.”  Also, Israel has previously accused Hamas of supplying various militant groups with weapons to use against Israel.

This attack, in addition to a rocket attack in Sderot, an Israeli town also located 1km from the Israeli border, has prompted many Israelis to call on Prime Minister Olmert to retaliate. A few days prior to the attack on the training base, a rocket landed in Sderot, outside a children’s day care.  While there were no casualties, Israelis say that it was only a matter of luck.  Thus far, the only military reaction was an air strike on launch sites in the Palestinian town of Beit Hanoun.  During the strike, only civilians incurred injuries, which were moderate.

There are conflicting reports as to whether Israel will retaliate against the constant rockets attacks.  Following the rocket attack in Sderot, several Israeli ministers called for Olmert to suspend delivery of water, electricity, and fuel to Gaza.  Now, following the attack on the training base, Israeli citizens are calling for Olmert to react.  Livni hinted that suspensions of water, electricity, and fuel may occur when he claimed that “we have means, means which are not only military.”

A hasher response may be possible, such as a military operation into Gaza.  While the prime minister met with ministers and security chiefs, Palestinians report seeing Israeli tanks entering Gaza.  However, Israel is also receiving international pressure to practice restraint when responding to the attack.

For more information please see:
AFP- US cautions Israel of any retaliatory attack on Gaza– 12 September 2007

Guardian- Israel holds back from rocket attack retaliation– 12 September 2007

Independent- Israel to retaliate after army base rocket attack– 12 September 2007

Washington Post- Israel resists calls for broad assault in Gaza– 12 September 2007

BBC- Rocket injures dozens in Israel– 11 September 2007

BBC- Anger at Israel boot camp safety– 11 September 2007

CNN- Group: We fired Israel rocket– 11 September 2007