The mayor of a southern Israeli council was killed while defending his community. Ofir Liebstein, the head of Sha'ar Hanegev Council, died in an exchange of fire with Hamas militants. AdvertisementAdvertisementOfir Liebstein, the head of Sha'ar Hanegev Council was killed during fighting with Hamas militants this morning, The Times of Israel reports. Liebstein was killed in an exchange of fire with Hamas militants as a barrage of rockets pounded southern Israel and reports of Palestinian fighters pouring across the border from Gaza. The rocket bombardment struck southern Israel, but sirens are reaching as far north as Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, per CNN.

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Persons: Ofir Liebstein, —, Ofir, Liebstein, Yossi Keren, Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: Sha'ar Hanegev, Service, Hanegev Regional, CNN, Israel Defense Forces, IDF, AP, Hamas Locations: Israel, Gaza, Hanegev, Jerusalem, Ashkelon, Tel Aviv