To which Israel’s prime minister threatened “uncompromising” retaliation. “Kassam rockets continue to hit Negev,” by Yaakov Lappin for the Jerusalem Post, February 27:
Palestinians fired two advanced Kassam rockets at Ashkelon on Saturday morning, in an attack that saw one projectile tear through an empty school, destroy classrooms, and spray shrapnel in all directions.
Damaged areas in the school included some that had been deemed safe zones by the Home Front Command.
Two people living near the school were lightly wounded and eight were treated for shock.
The second rocket hit an open area in the city, causing no injuries or damage.
Four additional rockets were fired during the day at the western Negev, striking open areas and causing no damage.
On Saturday evening, a seventh rocket hit the Sha’ar Hanegev region.
A police source told The Jerusalem Post that terrorists in Gaza assembled the rockets that struck Ashkelon using an improvised technique to make them more powerful.
The two rockets, which were retrieved and analyzed by police sappers, had a 170-mm. diameter, which allowed for a greater amount of explosives to be packed inside.
“These are improved Kassams, more powerful than standard Kassams. They have a longer range and pack a bigger punch,” the source said…