Hamas terrorists launched three powerful rocke🥃ts at an Israeli nuclear power plant on Wednesday — a terrifying escalation of hostilities in the increasingly violent conflict.
But a nuclear disaster was averted when Israel’s vaunted Iron Dome defense system shot one of the rockets out of the sky and the other two missed their targets and detonate🍸d on the ground⛎ without causing any injuries.
Extremists from Hamas’ fanatical Qassam B💦rigades boasted that they had launched the long-range, M-75 rockets from the Gaza Strip to the Israeli city of Dimona hoping to damage or destroy the reactor, about 47 miles away.
But the Iron Dome — which has had a remarkable success rate of about 90 percent during the recent conflict — and the terrorists’ poor targeting prevente🐻d the reactor from being damaged.
The 1🧸3-inch (333-milli෴meter) M-75 rockets have a range of about 50 miles and can reach most of central Israel.
It was the first time that rockets have▨ hit Dimona, one of Israel’s most sensiꩲtive areas because of the reactor’s location.
The rockets fired at the nuke plant were among 74 that rained down on cities 🐈across the country Wednesday, ဣthe Israeli military said.
Cr൲ying “God is great,” Palestinians in Gazaꦿ cheered as the rockets streaked overhead toward cities across Israel.
An angry Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would continue escalating attacks to stop the Hamas barrage and ordered the military to “take off th♌e gloves” in what it is calling Operation Protective Edge.
“The army is ready for all posꦏsibilities,” Netanyahu said after holding a meeting of his security cabinet.
“Hamas will pay a heavy price for firing toward Israeli citizens. The security of Israel’s citizens comes first. The operation will expand and continue until the fire toward our towns stops and quiet returns.”
Hamas also fired a Syrian-made rocket into Hadera — about 78 miles from Gaza, marking the deepest penetration into the country’s interior yet.
Hamas will pay a heavy price for firing toward Israeli citizens. The security of Israel’s citizens comes first. The operation will expand and continue until the fire toward our towns stops and quiet returns.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Ne🐻tanyahu
“Our enemies have developed, and it is getting scary,” resident Maayan From, 25, said of Hamas’ ability to strike deep into t♚he country. “We have to put an end to this.”
Other Israeli leaders warned a ground invasion coul🗹d be imminent.
“Despite the fact it will be hard, complicated and costly, we will have to take over Gaza temporarily, for a few weeks, to cut off the strengthening of this terror army,” Yuval Steinitz, Israel𝐆’s intelligence minister, told Israel Radio. “If you ask my humble opꦰinion, a significant operation like this is approaching.”
An Israelꦅi military spokesman said the rocket that struck Hadera was an M-302 and was similar to 40 others that were found on a ship intercepted by the Israeli navy in the Red Sea in March.
The rockets — with a range ♋of more than 100 miles — were made in Syria and shipped by Iran and we🥀re on their way to Gaza militants, Israel said.
Despite the interception, Hamas still holds dozens of ♐the deadly rockets, which pack lethal warh𓆏eads of up to 385 pounds.
Israel has attacked more tha𝕴n 560 targets🌊 in Gaza during the past two days.
But in an effort to prevent civilian casualties, the Israeli military makes warning phone calls to militants’ homes, telling them to get out immediately because the building is going to be bombed. Warning leaflets are alꦆso dropped from the air before specific areas are attacked.
Pa🦄lestinian medics say 49 people have been killed in Gaza, including 22 on Wednesday.
Israel authorized a call-up of as many as 40,000 reservists, many of whom would be assigned to the West Bank to free up active-🏅duty personnel for Gaza, where Is🎃raeli tanks are already massing along the border.