Hamas has extended the reach of its rocket attacks on Israel, hitting towns some 25 miles (40 kilometers) east of the beleaguered Gaza Strip. Hamas's military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, said in a statement that it had fired a Grad rocket against the town of Be'er Sheva, 40 kilometers east to the strip
The Hamas rocket attacks have been intensified since the Israeli onslaught on the Gaza Strip began on Saturday.
Some 385 Palestinians have been killed and at least 1,600 others have been wounded as the Israeli airstrikes continue for a fourth day.
Israel's Channel Seven reported that the Hamas rockets have also hit an area between Rahat and the city of Be'er Sheva, Israel's seventh largest city.
The town of Kiryat Malachi, located 30 kilometers (18 miles) from Israel's border with Gaza, and Netivot have also been targeted by retaliatory rocket attacks.
On Tuesday, at least 16 rockets landed in the city of Sderot while a rocket hit an open area south of Ashkelon.
Six Israelis have been killed by rocket attacks since the raids on Gaza started. At least sixteen others have been reported wounded.
The retaliatory rocket attacks promoted Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Tuesday to declare a "special situation" in all areas located within 30 kilometers of Gaza. Cities outside the emergency zone ware also on alert for possible attacks while cities, as far as Rehovot some 43 kilometers form Gaza, have begun to prepare for Hamas attacks.
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