Hamas fired ten rockets at southern Israel on Sunday at about 9:00 p.m., triggering sirens in Ashkelon, Ashdod, Yavne and nearby communities, the largest rocket barrage in months. One rocket fell in a parking lot in Ashkelon, lightly injuring one person, damaging several vehicles, and sparking fires. About 27 people suffering from shock or injuries incurred while running for shelter were treated at the scene and evacuated to the hospital. Shrapnel was also found in the Nir Galim community near Ashdod. The IDF spokesperson later said that five rockets were intercepted by air defenses. Following the rocket fire, IDF Spokesperson in Arabic Avichay Adraee issued an evacuation warning message to residents of Deir al-Balah. “This is an early and final warning before the attack!” he wrote. “We will act with great force against any area from which rockets are fired. The terrorist organizations, and especially Hamas, bear full responsibility for the evacuation and suffering of the civilians.” Channel 12 News reported on Monday morning that security officials in Israel estimate that Hamas still has “only” dozens of rockets capable of reaching a range of 45 kilometers, meaning rockets that can reach Ashdod and even bypass it, towards Rishon L’Tzion. Last month, Hamas fired three rockets towards Tel Aviv, proving that Hamas also has a stock of longer-range rockets. The report added that Hamas also has hundreds of short-range rockets, meaning those capable of hitting Gaza border communities. However, even if Israel eliminates all of Hamas’s remaining rockets, the rocket threat from Gaza will still exist. According to various reports over the past year, Gaza terror groups have been revamping Israeli bomb duds, producing new charges and short-range rockets. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)