Israel: At Least 450 Terror Rockets Fell Short in Gaza

Jerusalem, 18 October, 2023 (TPS) -- Rockets fired at Israel by Gaza-based terrorist organizations are increasingly falling short inside the Strip, according to Israel Defense Forces data released on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, some 12.7% of all projectiles launched by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad struck in the Gaza Strip, compared to just over 6% the previous day.

Since the start of the war on Oct. 7, 7.52% of rockets failed to reach Israeli territory, the IDF said, adding that it detected 450 misfires that led to “death and destruction in Gaza.”

“Rockets have been causing harm to Gazan civilians, in addition to Israeli civilians,” the military said. “Hamas is continuing to use the residents of the Gaza Strip as human shields and does not hesitate to risk the lives of Gazan civilians for the purpose of attacking Israelis.”

On Tuesday evening, an explosion rocked the courtyard of Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City. Hamas sources claimed it killed 471 Palestinians, a number that has not been independently verified. Hamas and much of the Arab world immediately blamed Israel, accusing the IDF of deliberately striking the hospital.

Israel released intercepted Hamas communications confirming the blast was caused by a misfired Palestinian Islamic Jihad rocket. It also released corroborating footage caught by security cameras at Moshav Netiv Ha’Asara.

No Israeli air force, ground or naval attacks were being carried out in the area at the time of the blast, IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said.

The blast occurred as Palestinian terrorists fired heavy barrages of rockets at southern and central Israel, triggering alarms in Rishon Letzion, Petach Tikvah, Bnei Brak, Ramat Gan and Bat Yam and other localities.

Failed rocket launches by Palestinian Islamic Jihad during fighting in May killed four Gaza civilians.

On Wednesday, U.S. President Joe Biden confirmed that based on the evidence he’d seen, the explosion was caused by an errant rocket.

“I’m deeply saddened and outraged by the hospital blast, which appears to be done by the other team—not you,” Biden, who arrived in Israel to show support for Jerusalem’s war effort against Hamas, told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israel has launched airstrikes on Gaza since Hamas terrorists killed at least 1,400 Israelis and wounded more than 4,400 in a massive offensive launched from Gaza on Oct. 7, which included massacres carried out at Gaza-area communities and rocket barrages.

Terrorists took at least 199 hostages from Israel to the Gaza Strip during the invasion, the IDF confirmed earlier this week.