The first night of the Israeli ground offensive
in the Gaza Strip was one of the calmest nights the western Negev has seen since the start of Operation Cast Lead.
Several rockets landed in open areas without causing injuries or damage.
The rocket fire resumed in Israeli cities on Sunday morning, with one Qassam slamming into a house in the southern town of Sderot. A number of residents suffered shock. Additional rockets landed near the city without causing injuries.
Two Grad rockets were fired at Netivot. There were no reports of injuries or damage. In total, some 16 rockets have been fired into Israel
since midnight.
House hit by rocket (Photo: Reuters)
Some 400 rockets have hit the southern communities – from the kibbutzim located near the fence bordering Gaza to the city of Yavne – since last Saturday, when the Israel Air Force began bombing the Strip.
IDF officials estimated that the rocket fire would be increased once the ground offensive began. Therefore, it has been decided to keep all schools located up to 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the Gaza Strip closed. These include educational institutions in Beersheba, Yavne and Gdera.
According to the Home Front Command's instructions, all kindergartens and special education institutions, as well as Ben-Gurion University, will also remain closed.
Additional information on the Home Front Command instructions can be received on telephone number 1207.
Shmulik Hadad and Yaheli Moran Zelikovich contributed to this report
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