For the second night in a row, rocket sirens blare repeatedly throughout central and southern Israel, sending millions of Israelis rushing for shelter.  Over the past 28 hours, more than 850 rockets from Gaza have been targeted towards Israeli citizens.

Tonight just before 9 pm, Central Israel was bombarded with rockets, in what appeared to be the largest-ever barrage aimed at the broader Tel Aviv area. The entire country is on high alert after sirens were set off  in Tel Aviv Area,  Holon, Rishon Lezion, Herzliya, Givatayim, Ra’anana and the Sharon region. The massive attack caused Israel to briefly suspend flights at Ben Gurion international airport and cancel schools Wednesday in all areas south of Herzliya.

In the central city of Rishon Lezion, a woman was killed from a rocket strike, bringing the number of fatalities from the rocket fire in Israel since Monday to three. Earlier today, two women were killed in Ashkelon, when they didn’t make it to safety in time. Over 100 Israeli’s have been injured and thousands more are suffering emotionally.

One rocket hit a bus in Holon, injuring four people, two of them seriously and two of them moderately. Medics said a five-year-old girl was among the wounded in Holon. In Givatayim, fragments of a rocket that was intercepted by the Iron Dome hit a house, injuring four people inside, police said. A building in north Tel Aviv was also hit. A large tank in Ashkelon belonging to the Eilat-Ashkelon oil pipeline was hit by a rocket earlier Tuesday and has been on fire for several hours. Firefighters have been working for hours to stop the fire.

Defense Minister Benny Gantz approved the call-up of 5,000 reservists as the IDF prepared for a large-scale offensive in the Gaza Strip as rocket attacks against southern Israel continued.“For every day of shooting at the citizens of Israel – we will send [Hamas and PIJ] back years and hit them hard,” Gantz said at an operational assessment with Southern Command officers and heads of local municipalities in the South.

“Hamas and Islamic Jihad have paid and will continue to pay for their actions,” said Prime Minister Netanyahu. “We are all mourning those killed and praying for those who were injured. We give our full support to the IDF and Israeli security forces. This campaign will take time.”

Amid Gaza barrages, major rioting and chaos in Lod continues. The mayor of Lod has stated ‘It’s civil war’. Today is different from previous times, because it is the first time since 1948, our normally peaceful Arab/ Jewish coexistence cities including Jaffa/ Tel Aviv, Ramle, Lod are filled with street fighting, riots and looting. A civil emergency has been declared in Lod, 16 units of Reserve Soliders and Border police forces are being  deployed to the city as synagogues, stores, cars set alight by Arab mobs. 

For those of us deeply attached to Israel this is a nightmare affecting every single Israeli citizen. The feeling of helplessness is overwhelming. The number of people being registered for intake with OneFamily is not something we can quantify right now as the barrage of rockets continues.OneFamily resources are being lined up to help right now including counsellors, therapists, logistics coordination, money, food, shelter, and more. There is a critical need for donations,  we ask that you please give generously.

The Lubavitcher   Rebbe always said that Israel is the safest place on earth however we still need to do our part. The Rebbe always encouraged the giving of extra Tzedakah, charity, and citing psalms, specifically to chapters 20, 22, 69, 130 and 150 for our brothers and sisters in the holy land.