SDEROT, Israel - With the escalation of rocket attacks along the Gaza border, Israel deployed its "Iron Dome" anti-rocket system for the first time on Sunday to protect its citizens from projectiles fired from the Gaza strip.

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The system will be used to protect civilians from rockets in southern Israel. It also raised many questions among local people about its effectiveness.

Marcello Trugman, a resident of southern Israel, whose home was hit by a Kassam rocket which exploded outside his living room in a community near the Gaza strip overnight Friday.

"My brother was standing in the middle of this room when it happened, it was a miracle that he wasn't hurt," Trugman said, pointing to the living room walls that were almost demolished with the force of shrapnel.

The house is located in a community without government-mandated specially reinforced rooms to help protect residents from rocket attacks.

Trugman complained that they do not have enough protection measures since escalation of rocket attacks. "With the distance to the community shelter, there is not enough time for people here to reach it. We are protecting ourselves as much as possible by standing in the safest area of a house - under door frames."

However, Trugman expressed his dissatisfaction for the new system. "I think that the Iron Dome is not going to help us here because we are too close to the border with Gaza. Hamas will learn and shoot missiles and rockets out of the range of the system."

"Our biggest issue here is mortar shells and the new system can 't intercept these," he added, "I prefer that the country protect us with building security rooms."

Israeli local leaders expressed their joy and doubt at the new system, reminding civilians that it is not a 100 percent solution to the problem.

Head of the Negev area Meir Yifrach said "objectively speaking, I would like that they will set the 'Iron Dome' where it will retain strategic places. Subjectively, I'd like that they will set it as close as possible to us."

David Buskila, mayor of Sderot which is subject to frequent rocket fire, expressed his apprehensions about the new system. "I' ll continue to demand the government to protect Sderot," he said, calling on the residents of the city to remain vigilant.

"Only time will tell if the system works. Anything is better than nothing," a resident of Sderot said.