Israel intercepts rockets fired at Tel Aviv and Dimona

IDF soldiers operating near Gaza

JERUSALEM — Israel’s Iron Dome system intercepted rockets fired at the heavily populated Tel Aviv area and at Dimona, which houses a nuclear reactor.

Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes hit about 320 targets in Gaza overnight on the third day of its expanded military operation to curb rocket fire from the strip.

Twenty-seven Palestinians were killed in the strikes, including a family of eight, the Palestinian Maan news agency reported, bringing the overall death toll since the start of Operation Protective Edge to 78.

At least two rockets were fired at Tel Aviv during the Thursday morning rush hour. One was intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system and a second fell in an open area, according to reports.

Shrapnel from the rockets damaged cars and a gas station in southern Tel Aviv. Hamas took credit for the rockets fired at Tel Aviv. Rockets also were fired at the city later in the morning.

Later in the morning, rockets were fired from Gaza at Dimona, where the Negev Nuclear Research Center and nuclear reactor are housed. One rocket was shot down and one fell in an open area, according to reports. Rockets also fell on the Negev Desert town of Mitzpe Ramon, which is home to the Ramon Crater.

Meanwhile, the armed wing of Fatah, the party of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, also claimed responsibility for firing rockets on Israel, the Times of Israel reported. The announcement was made in a statement on Fatah’s official Facebook page.

An Israeli military spokesman said  Thursday morning that since the beginning of Protective Edge, over 360 rockets have been fired at Israel and that the Israel Defense Forces has hit over 590 “terror targets.”

Also Thursday, Israel allowed 240 Palestinians with foreign citizenship, including American, to leave Gaza, according to Ha'aretz.