Residents of Southern Israel remained on high alert Sunday as rockets from the Gaza Strip continued to fall on the fifth day since Palestinian terrorists resumed their targeting of civilians. One rocket exploded in a residential area, while others sent trauma victims to area hospitals and forced the cancellation of school activities.

In all, hundreds of rockets have fallen on the region encompassing the cities of Ashkelon, Sderot, Ashdod and Beersheva, and other locals in the Negev Desert. Most have been intercepted and diverted by the Israel Defense Force’s anti-ballistic missile system known as Iron Dome, but about 20 projectiles made it through the defenses. According to news reports, one exploded in a populated area of the Eshkol Regional Council district south of Ashkelon Sunday, while another caused damage to a school in Sderot over the Sabbath. Chabad-Lubavitch of Ashkelon director Rabbi Menachem Lieberman was driving home from an event in Kfar Chabad Saturday night when he heard the air raid sirens.

“I saw the fireworks in the sky,” said Lieberman. “It was caused by the missiles coming in and the anti-missiles attacking them.”

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Lieberman, who runs one of the largest Chabad-affiliated educational systems in Israel, said that Ashkelon schools were closed on Thursday, but reopened Friday and Sunday. Officials, however, had to postpone assemblies commemorating the 18th anniversary of the passing of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, so as not to keep children congregated in one space.

“I can’t say it’s not frightening,” he said of the Saturday night barrage. “Just the noise and sound of the rockets going off is very loud. The explosions give everyone a little shake, but thank G‑d, nothing serious happened.

“It all puts things into perspective,” he added. “We begin to appreciate what is important and what is not.”

A warning remained in effect from the Defense Ministry for all citizens to stay within 15 seconds of the closest bomb shelter, the time allotted for potential impact of a rocket from the moment a warning siren is sounded, said the rabbi.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Defense Minister Ehud Barak, IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz, and other senior defense officials to discuss the situation. He reportedly ordered them to take strong action to restore security to the south.

In one of many Israel Air Force counterstrikes on the Gaza Strip since the latest firing of rockets, pilots reported one terrorist was killed as he prepared to launch a rocket.