Two wounded by Qassam rockets in Sderot; Hamas claims responsibility

A 44-year-old woman was moderately to seriously wounded and her 4-year-old son lightly hurt Tuesday when a Qassam rocket hit their house in the western Negev town of Sderot.

A spokeswoman for Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon said eight other individuals were treated for shock.

Hamas claimed responsibility for the rocket barrage, in which nine rockets were fired at the western Negev on Tuesday evening, seven of which hit Sderot.

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One rocket hit another house in Sderot, one hit a schoolyard in the town and the four others hit open areas. There were no reports of injuries.

Another two rocket hits an open area in the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council, one of which caused a fire.

According to Hamas' armed wing, it fired the rockets to mark Nakba Day, on which Palestinians commemorate what they call the catastrophe of Israel's creation.

The group added thatthe rocket attack was also designed to shift the focus to Israel after days of deadly factional fighting in Gaza between Hamas and Fatah that has left at least 20 people dead.