Palestinians fired four rockets from Gaza into the South on Thursday night, interrupting hours of relative calm. One rocket was fired into the Ashkelon Coast Council area, and one into the Eshkol Regional Council area. Both projectiles fell in open areas. The Iron Dome rocket defense system intercepted one Grad rocket that was fired from Gaza toward the Ashdod area, and another fell in an open area. No injuries or damages were reported.

Palestinian sources reported shortly after, that IAF helicopters fired at an area in the northwestern Gaza Strip, and that Navy warships fired missiles at the coast of Gaza. No casualties were reported and there was no confirmation of an attack by the IDF.

On Thursday morning, two rockets were launched from Gaza into southern Israel, casting further doubt on reports that a ´ceasefire´ was being observed by jihadi Gazan organizations.

In the morning, a Grad rocket fired from Gaza exploded close to a school outside Ofakim in the Sdot Negev Regional Council.

The rocket failed to cause injuries, but sparked panic among parents, who quickly arrived to remove their children from the school. The school had been open after the city of Netivot decided to follow Home Front Command instructions and allow schools in the town to remain open.

A few hours later, Palestinians sent a Grad rocket hurtling towards Beersheba. The rocket was successfully intercepted by the Iron Dome system.

Following the attacks, the mayors of Ashdod, Ashkelon, Be´ersheba and Gan Yavne declared that schools would be shut in their cities.

The move was a show of no confidence in Home Front Command assessments that a "calm" had taken hold.

Ofakim mayor Tzvik Grienfield criticized the inconsistent manner in which some areas of the South shut schools while other areas kept schools open.

Referring to mayors that shut schools, Grienfield said that they "contradicted Home Front Command instructions and caused confusion in other cities. The Home Front Command must put a stop to this intolerable situation."

The mayors said, however, that daily rocket attacks proved that schools remained unsafe for children. (© 1995-2011, The Jerusalem Post 03/16/12)