7 injured near Tel Aviv in Gaza rocket attack: Israel

JERUSALEM, March 25 (Xinhua) -- A long-range rocket from Gaza hit a residential Home in central Israel on Monday morning, injuring seven, authorities said, in the first such incident since 2014.

Sirens were sounded in the Sharon area moments before the rocket hit a Home in the community of Mishmeret, some 40 km northeast of Tel Aviv.

A spokesperson with the Israeli military confirmed in a statement that "one rocket was identified to have been launched from the Gaza Strip at Israel."

The Magen David Adom medical emergency service said at least seven occupants of the Home were injured. Two of them sustained moderate wounds and the other five, including an 18-month-old baby girl and a three-year-old boy, were lightly wounded.

Local TV channels showed images of a building with severe damage, and according to the regional council of Lev Hasharon, where the community is located, the attack set the house aflame.

No organization in Gaza immediately assumed responsibility for the fire.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is in Washington for talks with President Donald Trump and a speech before the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, has issued a statement, saying the rocket was "a criminal attack" and Israel will "respond strongly."

Netanyahu said he will cut short his visit and will head back to Israel on Monday morning, after meeting with Trump.

Such rocket attacks at central Israel are rare. On March 14, two long-range rockets from Gaza were launched at Tel Aviv, Israel's financial capital, but caused no damage.

The rocket came amidst a sensitive time in the area. Israel will hold general elections in two weeks, with Netanyahu in a tight re-election campaign and under pressure by his rivals to curb the violence from Gaza.

Along the fence between Israel and the besieged Gaza Strip, Israeli soldiers shot to death a young Palestinian man during a protest on Sunday.

Later in March, Hamas is planned to mark a year to the weekly demonstrations along the fence, known as "the Great March of Return." At least 190 Palestinians and an Israeli soldier were killed in the rallies.