Palestinian militants in Gaza renewed rocket fire toward the south of Isael yesterday, launching eight projectiles at Be'er Sheva and Sderot. There were no reports of casualties or damage in any of the incidents.
Two rockets were fired toward Be'er Sheva, after an alarm sounded throughout the city. One rocket was intercepted by the Iron Dome anti-missile system, and one exploded in an open area. Another two rockets were fired at Sderot; one was intercepted, while the other fell in an open area. Three more rockets exploded in an open area in the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council.
As a result of the renewed rocket fire, the mayors of Be'er Sheva, Ashdod, and Ashkelon decided to cancel all classes for today. Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Be'er Sheva, on the other hand, decided to continue classes as scheduled.
Students in Netivot, Ofakim, Kiryat Malachi, Kiryat Gat, Sderot and the regional councils of the communities along the Gaza border went to school yesterday, while those in Be'er Sheva, Ashdod and Ashkelon remained home one more day, despite the Home Front all-clear to return to school.
"The schools and kindergartens in Ashkelon are not fortified, despite the promises we received," Ashkelon Mayor Benny Vaknin said.
"Sunday was a very difficult day in Ashkelon. We lost one of the veteran residents, and we have injured people in hospital... We heard the prime minister say there is no ceasefire, and after consulting with the other mayors, I decided not to open the schools today," Vaknin said.
Earlier yesterday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied reports about a ceasefire between Israel and Islamic Jihad, the group responsible for the rocket fire.
Shortly after Netanyahu spoke, a rocket fired from Gaza exploded in an open area in the Hof Ashkelon Regional Council.