The Israeli Radio reported on Wednesday evening that two Israeli residents were mildly injured after two homemade shells landed near Ashkelon, in the south of Israel.
The radio added that seven shells were fired at the Israeli Negev town of Sderot on Wednesday, one shell exploded on a main street.
According to initial estimations, the two homemade shells landed on Road 34, not far from a gas station in the area. Police forces were trying to
Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that he Red Dawn alert system identified five homemade shells launched from the northern Gaza Strip.
Apparently, several shells landed in an open filed in the Zikim area, south of Ashkelon, despite recent military action to prevent Qassam fire.
Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz instructed the army to escalate the shelling of Palestinian areas in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. Tanks and artillery fired several shells during evening hours.
Islamic Jihad and al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades claimed responsibility for the Qassam fire. The two groups said they would continue firing the shells as along as Israel continuous its operations and plan to create the "security zone" in the Gaza Strip.
