Israeli missiles destroyed a Hamas weapons storage facility and an operations center of the Popular Resistance Committee in the hours before dawn Tuesday.

The sorties followed a day in which 25 rockets were fired at the western Negev, particularly at the town of Sderot. A 32-year-old woman was killed, several other people were wounded and more than a dozen suffered shock in attacks throughout the day.

Exploding rockets also ignited fires around the region, damaged numerous structures and again prevented children from going to school and enjoying end-of-year activities.

Hamas Prime Minister Offers Ceasefire, Promises Annihilation

The ruling Palestinian Authority Hamas terror organization, which began the intense rocket barrages against Israel a week ago, is now offering to temporarily halt its attacks in return for a promise by Israel to stop counter-terrorism operations in Judea and Samaria.

We live in a world where when Christians kill Muslims, it's a crusade. When Jews kill Muslims, it's a massacre. When Muslims kill Muslims, it's the weather channel. Nobody cares.

This is not a new deal; the same terms were offered months ago while rockets continued to fly in violation of the first supposed ceasefire that was to end those attacks in return for an IDF withdrawal from Gaza.  More than 350 rockets were fired and dozens of bombs planted along the Gaza separation barrier since that first “ceasefire” was negotiated.

Now, even as Hamas PA Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh is trying to negotiate a ceasefire with one side of his mouth, he has been vowing with the other to continue the battles until the state of Israel is wiped off the map.

“We will keep to the same path until we achieve one of two goals,” Haniyeh announced Monday, “victory or martyrdom.”  Abu Obeida, a spokesman for one of the Hamas terrorist gangs, promised to continue striking “the enemy anywhere in Palestine, whether with suicide attacks or operations against soldiers.”

Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh commented on Israel Radio Tuesday morning that offers by Hamas to negotiate a ceasefire were empty words.  He said it was important to pay attention to everything that is said - to the Arab population as well as to the Jews.

“When someone preaches that the State of Israel should be destroyed, he is not in the political echelon; he is a terrorist in a suit,” he pointed out. What does the political Hamas body do? It gives operational approval, if not actual ratification to those who are doing the fighting.”

Mr. Sneh warned that Israel is returning to its former policy of targeted assassinations, minus the kid gloves. “I’ll put it like this,” he told the interviewer. “There is no one who is in the circle of commanders and leaders in Hamas who is immune from a strike.”

Gillerman Insists IDF Withdrawal Was ‘Right Thing to Do’

This week’s intense attacks by Hamas are actually a sign of weakness, Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Dan Gillerman explained to pro-Israel advocates in New York on Monday.

"I really think that what we're seeing today is a weak Hamas," Gillerman said, postulating that Israel forced Hamas to join the Fatah faction by isolating it. He added, "Israel stands behind the fact that a withdrawal from Gaza was the right thing to do in spite of the consequences we see today."

Gillerman also accused moderate Muslims of an "eerie silence" by not trying to stop other Muslims from escalating terrorism around the world. He also charged world leaders with holding a double standard when judging Israel’s actions to defend itself.

"We live in a world where when Christians kill Muslims, it's a crusade. When Jews kill Muslims, it's a massacre. When Muslims kill Muslims, it's the weather channel. Nobody cares," Gillerman said.