Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday cut short his trip to Washington, D.C. after a rocket from the Gaza Strip struck a home in Israel.
Netanyahu, who was due to speak at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee conference, is traveling home earlier than expected Monday after the rocket attack wounded seven people. It’s the furthest a rocket has reached into Israel from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, likely leading to defensive measures in the coming days by Israeli forces.
He also canceled meetings with congressional leaders.
“There has been a criminal attack on the State of Israel and we will respond forcefully,” Netanyahu said. “In a few hours, I will meet with President Trump. I will return to Israel immediately afterward.”
The rocket, fired from the Gaza Strip, hit a house in the agricultural community of Mishmeret, in central Israel, early Monday morning.
Among the seven injured, which ranged from mild to moderate injuries, two family dogs died in the attack.
According to Israeli military, Hamas terrorists in Gaza fired the rocket from a launch pad in Rafah, a Palestinian refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip.
