At least 66 wounded in Kassam attack near Zikim military base
JPost.com Staff , THE JERUSALEM POST Sep. 11, 2007
At least 66 soldiers were wounded after a Kassam rocket fired by Palestinians landed in an IDF basic training camp on Monday night.
The rocket struck inside the Zikim military base, located one kilometer north of the Gaza Strip, at approximately 1:30 a.m. The Kassam landed next to a tent in which a group of soldiers were sleeping. Another rocket, which landed in an open area in the western Negev, caused no casualties.
The severity of wounds received by the troops varied. At least 30 soldiers were wounded from the impact of the explosion or by shrapnel; the remainder was suffering from shock. The victims include both male and female soldiers.
All of the wounded were evacuated to Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon, Soroka Hospital in Beersheba and Sheba Hospital in Tel Hashomer. By 6 a.m., 21 of the soldiers evacuated to hospital overnight were discharged.
Barzilai Hospital opened a hotline following the attack. The public is invited to call 1255171 for information.
Thirty ambulances were alerted to the scene, south of Ashkleon, where they are accompanied by two helicopters responsible for evacuating the wounded.
The Nasr Salah al-Din Brigades, the Palestinian Resistance Committee's armed wing, claimed responsibility for the attack. The IDF, who confirmed the attack, said that the rockets were fired from Beit Hanun.
At least 66 wounded in Kassam attack near Zikim military base
