Residents of Sderot began their third day of a hunger strike, sending a message to Defense Minister Amir Peretz who refuses to carry out ground force operations in the Gaza Strip after Palestinians launched nearly more than 100 Qassam rockets into their city and homes. “Peretz spoke in the Knesset and called on us to stop our strike, but I can tell him right now: You are welcome to visit us, but we will stop our strike only if you come here with a clear military plan to stop the terrorism of the Hamas government, distance the Qassams from our city, and restore security to our children - and I don't mean by reinforcing the buildings, by retreating from towns, or by holdings summer camps. I'm referring to another Operation Defensive Shield - a massive ground-forces operation inside Gaza,” said Alon Davidi, initiator of the hunger strike. Protests are taking place in front of the defense minister’s Negev home pleading with him to preserve their city.