Air War Escalates Between Gaza, Israel

Israeli air strikes late Tuesday hit the Internal Ministry in Gaza and a school allegedly used for terrorist activities at night.

The bombing followed a Palestinian rocket hit in the Israeli city of Ashkelon, the first in its center, the Jerusalem Post reported. The rocket reportedly traversed 12 kilometers (more than 7 miles), a record for the Qassams fired from Gaza.

Tonight a grave escalation took place when a Qassam landed in a school in our southern town, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said. This is a peerless and grave escalation in the terrorist war for which Hamas, which is in control of the Palestinian government, is responsible.

The hit on the Palestinian Internal Ministry building was the second in five days. Five people were reportedly injured.

Izzadin al-Qassam, the military wing of Hamas, said it was responsible for the attack on Ashkelon, claiming the missile was upgraded to a range of 15 kilometers (9 miles). No one was injured, although some children playing soccer were reportedly knocked off their feet by the explosion.

The industrial periphery of Ashkelon has been hit by rockets, but this was the first to land in the central area.

Israeli troops trying to rescue a kidnapped 19-year-old soldier in Gaza have clashed with Palestinian militants.