Kassam strikes southern Israel

A file photo of a kassam rocket fired from a civilian area in Gaza towards civilian areas in Southern Israel in December, 2008. Photo by paffairs_sanfrancisco/Wikipedia

A Kassam rocket fired from Gaza hit southern Israel, ending a two-day lull in rocket fire.

The rocket hit Monday morning in an open area in the Negev. A hothouse was damaged by shrapnel, according to Israel Radio. The Color Red warning system sounded in several towns in the area.

It was the first rocket to hit Israel since Friday evening, when one hit in the same area.

On Sunday, more than 200,000 students in southern Israel returned to school. They had remained home last week as more than 200 rockets struck Israel following an upsurge in violence after the March 9 assassination of Zuhir Mussah Ahmed Kaisi, leader of the Popular Resistance Committees in Gaza. The Israeli military believed Kaisi was planning a terrorist strike in Israel.