Twelve of the rockets intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system, according to the Israel Defense Forces. The rocket fire was a continuation of Sunday's attacks, which saw some 30 projectiles launched at Israel. The attacks were claimed by Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).

Iron Dome is only activated when an incoming missile is predicted to be heading towards a populated area.

The rocket launches sent thousands of residents of Sderot, Sha'ar Hanegev and Netiv Ha'asara scrambling for bomb shelters.

Due to the Sunday night attacks, the IDF on Monday morning had already ordered closures of areas and roads adjacent to the Gaza border fence, as well as Zikim Beach between Ashkelon and Gaza.

Following a directive from Israel's Home Front Command, school was canceled on Monday for 55,000 students in Ashkelon, Netivot, Sderot, Hof Ashkelon, Eshkol Regional Council, Sha'ar Hanegev.

Israelis were allowed to go to work as usual, provided that shelters were immediately available.

Israel responded to the attacks by launching airstrikes on PIJ sites in both the Gaza Strip and Syria, reportedly killing two members outside Damascus and another four pro-Iranian militants.

"IDF fighter jets struck terror sites belonging to the PIJ terror group south of Damascus in Syria, as well as dozens of PIJ sites throughout the Gaza Strip," the IDF said in a statement.

According to initial reports, the IDF apparently did not target Hamas sites.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Radio Jerusalem on Monday morning that Israel might have no choice but to launch a major military operation, bigger even than 2014's "Operation Protective Edge."

"If Israel is in the position of entering a large-scale military operation, we will have to deal a bigger blow than 'Cast Lead,' 'Pillar of Smoke' and 'Protective Edge,'" said Netanyahu. "It could very well be that we may have to carry out—I don't really want to say it, but—'the mother of all operations.'"

The rocket fire comes after Israeli troops killed two Gazans on Sunday who were attempting to plant a bomb along the Israel-Gaza border. Video uploaded to social media showed IDF troops using a military bulldozer to retrieve the terrorists' bodies, under a hail of stones from Palestinian rioters. The Israeli military argues that the bodies of terrorists can be used as bargaining chips in negotiations with Gaza terror organizations, which currently hold two Israeli civilian hostages, along with the bodies of two IDF soldiers.

"I am sick of the hypocritical left-wing criticism of the 'inhumanity' of using a bulldozer to bring us the body of a terrorist who tried to murder Israelis," Israeli Defense Minister Bennett wrote on Twitter.

"Hamas is holding the bodies of [fallen soldiers] Hadar Goldin and Oron [Shaul]," he said. "I back the IDF [forces] that killed the terrorists and collected the body. This is how we should and will act." Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

[Reprinted with permission from JNS.org]

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Donnie Wahlberg: 'The Most Important Thing I Ever Did Was to Give My Life to Christ'

'Fourth of July Miracle': Missing 4-Year-Old Found Alive after Walking Nearly Five Miles Along Oregon Coast

Christian Hollywood Star Exposes the Perverse, 'Demonic' Fraud Inside Foster Care System

Brazilian Judge Sentences Parents to Prison for Homeschooling Their Daughters

Little Sisters of the Poor Return to Court Again over Obama Contraception Mandate

WATCH: State Fails to Investigate Daycares with No Children Despite Media Reports

Trump on Iran Ceasefire, MoU: 'I Think It's Over'—US Retaliates after IRGC Attacks Civilian Ships

'Young Washington' Delivers Record Opening Weekend for Angel Studios

After an Emotional Loss to Belgium, the US Men's Team Continued to Give God the Glory

A 'Miracle': CCP Releases Pastor Ezra Jin

House Speaker Johnson Braces for a High-Stakes July with Everything on the Line

Why the NATO Summit in Ankara Matters to the US

New Report Details Secret Service Failures in Butler Assassination Attempt

Charlie Kirk's Family Faces Accused Killer Tyler Robinson for the First Time as Murder Case Moves Forward

'The Passion of the Christ' Getting Theatrical Re-Release Ahead of Highly Anticipated Sequel

A Sweet Update on That Oregon Couple Who Stepped Up at the Great American State Fair

The World Lights Up for America's 250th, While the American Left Opts to Whine About It

The America 250 Celebration in DC Was One for the History Books (Videos)

Must Watch: Katharine Birbalsingh's Fiery ARC Speech-How Schools Are Destroying the Moral Core of the West (Video)

DHS Condemns Minnesota Pardon of Convicted Child Rapist