Some Israeli residents of the rocket battered western Negev region are not waiting for the government and army to curb the Gaza rocket threat, and are taking the matter of retaliation and deterrence into their own hands.

Moshe Nissimpor, a resident of the southern port city of Ashkelon that since last last week has been hit by some 25 Katyusha missiles, developed and constructed a 200-milimeter ballistic missile, painted it black and scrawled the words "to Gaza from the residents of Ashkelon" on it.

On Wednesday, Nissimpor headed to the Ashkelon Municipality building with his missile where he was surrounded by a large and angered group of fellow residents cheering him on as he prepared to launch the projectile toward Gaza.

At the last moment, police officers stepped in and confiscated the missile.

In remarks carried by The Jerusalem Post, Nissimpor said that, unfortunately, mutual violence is the only language the Palestinians understand, and that he "wished there were more 'crazies' like me in Israel."