Smoke and fire rise from the site of an Israeli air strike in Gaza, Nov. 12, 2018. Photo: Reuters / Ahmed Zakot.

Top US Jewish groups have reacted with concern to the massive Gaza rocket attack on southern Israel on Monday in which more than a dozen Israelis were wounded.

“We condemn in the strongest terms the attack by Hamas, firing rockets, mortars, and anti-tank missiles from Gaza against the towns and residents of the south of Israel,” Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations (CoP) Chairman Arthur Stark and Executive Vice Chairman and CEO Malcolm Hoenlein said in a statement. “Hundreds of rockets have been fired indiscriminately towards population centers in the last hours. These attacks specifically target civilians, and a number of Israelis have been injured and property damaged.”

“No country can or should have to tolerate such attacks across an internationally recognized border,” they continued. “Israel must do whatever it deems appropriate to safeguard its citizens and borders, and the international community must not only denounce such attacks in unambiguous terms, but they also must help prevent the weapons flow, technical support, and assistance that enables these attacks to continue.”

“We support the government of Israel taking the measures necessary to end these countless assaults on and attempts to infiltrate Israeli borders, the terror tunnels into Israel, the incendiary devices that have destroyed thousands of acres of farmland and national reserves, and the thousands of rockets aimed at civilian centers,” Stark and Hoenlein declared. “Israel has demonstrated patience and restraint far beyond any expectations to avoid an expanding conflict. We understand that now it must act to defend its citizens.”

World Jewish Congress (WJC) President Ronald Lauder stated, “In the last few hours, Hamas terrorists have fired more than 100 rockets at southern Israel, in a deliberate attempt to terrify residents and inflict maximum damage. These cowardly acts of terror must stop immediately. We call on the international community to unilaterally condemn these attacks and to urge Hamas to halt these hostilities before more lives are claimed.”

The American Jewish Committee (AJC) tweeted, “AJC stands in solidarity with the residents of southern Israel as they come under rocket attack from Palestinian terrorists in Gaza.”

AJC stands in solidarity with the residents of southern Israel as they come under rocket attack from Palestinian terrorists in Gaza. https://t.co/UYKsFaB2Y2

— AJC (@AJCGlobal) November 12, 2018