Four Israelis killed in Eshkol by Hamas mortar. Hamas Fajr-5 blows up prematurely outside Shifa hospital

DEBKAfile Special Report July 28, 2014, 6:36 PM (IDT)

Tags:  IDF,  Hamas,  Gaza,  Fajr-5 missiles,

Palestinian mortar fire Monday evening, July 28, killed 4 Israels in the Eshkol District and injured six others, four seriously. 

 

In Gaza City, there are first reports of a huge explosion at Hamas’ command and control headquarters which is located in a bunker near the Shifa hospital. The entire block at the heart of the city is wreathed in black smoke. Sources in Gaza report 10 fatalities and 50 people injured. The IDF does not confirm an attack on the hospital compound. debkafile’s military sources report the suspicion that Hamas attempted to launch one of its Iranian Fajr-5 missiles at Tel Aviv. It went off prematurely in a playground in the hospital compound and may have also triggered an explosion in an ammunition store.

Confirmation of a Hamas attempt to shoot a Fajr-5 missile at Tel Aviv would be the death blow to all the efforts of the last 48 hours for a pause in the hostilities in Gaza. The latest truce supposed to go into effect Monday for 24 hours was in any case blatantly violated by Hamas with more than a dozen rockets fired at Israel thus far.