After night of rockets, 75% of Israeli children show at Gaza area schools

Naftali Bennett praised the resilience of Israelis on the border.

MAY 30, 2018 12:01

Updated: MAY 31, 2018 03:35

Education Minister Naftali Bennett visits Israeli schools near the Gaza border following a night of rocket attacks, May 30, 2018. (photo credit: YOSEF IFERGAN) — Education Minister Naftali Bennett visits Israeli schools near the Gaza border following a night of rocket attacks, May 30, 2018.

(photo credit: YOSEF IFERGAN)

Seventy-five percent of children in Israeli communities near the border with the Gaza Strip showed up at school by 9:15 a.m. on Wednesday, despite a sleepless night of sirens due to rocket and mortar barrages fired by Palestinian terrorists.

“It was not an easy night for the residents here,” Education Minister Naftali Bennett said at a news conference outside a primary school in the Sha’ar Hanegev region. “Between midnight and the early hours of the morning, there was a series of Code Red sirens and running to the shelters.

President Rivlin speaks to kindergarten hit by Gaza mortar fire, May 29, 2018 (President"s Spokesperon"s Office)

“I also spent the night at a family home in one of the communities, and I experienced this white night myself. It’s not easy, and yet 75% of the students have come to school, and I hope more will come later.”

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“The heated situation on the Gazan side is neither accidental nor local,” he said. “The mastermind is an Iranian one, and the hands are of Hamas operatives. The State of Israel is engaged in a focused and consistent campaign against the head of the octopus in Iran. The octopus is operating its arms in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza to harm the State of Israel.

“Since we are conducting an economic, political and military campaign against Iran, it is trying to divert our attention and create provocations in Gaza through one of the tentacles. We must not drop the ball or lose focus.”

Bennett stressed that Iran is the central issue, and once that is resolved, the situation will be far more calm in all the affected countries.

He met with students at the school following the news conference.