Hamas targeted Ashkelon with at least three Katyusha rockets mid-morning Wednesday after it took aim on Be'er Sheva, where an empty school was hit. At least two people were hospitalized for light to moderate shrapnel wounds, and several others suffered shock.
President Shimon Peres was visiting a bomb shelter where 30 children are staying at the same time rockets exploded nearby. He also visited rocket victims being treated at Barzilai Hospital. His appearance had been embargoed for security reasons.
President Shimon Peres (right) with children in Ashkelon bomb shelter
Israel news photo: Flash 90
One hour later, a rocket hit the parking lot of a residential buildng, causing widespread damage but no physical injuries. Dozens of shock victims have swamped Barzilai.
The renewed bombardment in Ashkelon accompanied other attacks on Ofakim and Sderot, located southeast of the port city, and areas near Ashdod and Kiryat Gat. One rocket also hit the high-speed Kvish 6 (Highway 6) north-south highway as Hamas tries to widen the areas under attack.
The Israeli Air Force and the Navy resumed fire on terrorist targets shortly after the attack on Ashkelon.
More than 20 missiles struck southern Israel since shortly before 7 a.m. as the Security Cabinet met to discuss a request by France to agree to a temporary ceasefire. Most government ministers have voiced opposition to the initiative, particularly because they reason that it would allow humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza.
The office of outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has pointed out that nearly 200 trucks of humanitarian aid, along with new trucks and ambulances, have passed into Gaza the past three days. One hundred more trucks of aid are expected to enter Gaza Wednesday.
IDF commander Moshe Levi, who heads coordination at the Erez crossing at the northern edge of Gaza, said that unprecedented amounts of medicine, blood units and medical supplies have entered Gaza.
He added that Hamas officials have placed obstacles that have delayed or prevented the transfer of the wounded, including a seven-year-old boy, to Israeli hospitals. Levy maintained that complaints from Hamas about a lack of assistance are aimed at the media and that there are not severe shortages.