Different reports counted as many as 65 projectiles fired at Israel Wednesday evening and overnight. On Thursday morning, an additional four missiles were fired into southern Israel, two of which landed dangerously close to populated areas in the coastal city of Ashkelon.

A furious Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded: "There are no free shots, and terrorist elements in the Gaza Strip should start internalizing the fact that they are dealing with a very determined government and a very strong army."

In fact, Israel had already hit back hard overnight, with aerial strikes on at least 29 Hamas and Islamic Jihad installations in Gaza. Islamic Jihad claimed credit for the initial barrage, the largest rocket attack on Israel since last 2012, when Israel was forced to launch "Operation Pillar of Cloud" in response to escalating aggression from Gaza.

Believing the exchange to be over by early Thursday morning, local municipalities in southern Israel opened schools as usual, only to urgently evacuate the students as air raid sirens sounded once again shortly after classes had begun.

In a Hebrew-language video posted to the Internet, Islamic Jihad threatened to increase its attacks if Israel dared to retaliate too severely. The terror group also invited Israeli Jews "to leave our country [sic] and to find your own country."

The US condemned the Palestinian attacks as "reprehensible," and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon "deplored the severe escalation of violence."

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, meanwhile, was conspicuously silent. He only began to speak up after Israel responded to the rocket attacks, Netanyahu noted, and even then he blamed the wrong side. Abbas told Reuters that he was calling for a cessation of "Israeli military escalation in the Gaza Strip."

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

Pro-Life Advocates to Hold Prayer and Worship Service at the United States Supreme Court on the Eve of 'Idaho v. United States' Abortion Case

'Just a Disaster': Biden's Title IX Rule Empowers LGBTQ Movement, Erases Women and Justice

WATCH: Brave School Girl Reveals in Graphic Detail How TRANS Student Savagely Assaulted Her Friend While Blasting Woke School Officials for Letting it Happen

United For Israel March Happening on the Columbia University Campus, April 25th

As Anti-Israel Activists Vandalize Texas Congressman's Office, He 'Stands With Israel'

Did Letitia James Accidentally Reveal the Real Reason for Her Trump Witch Hunt?

Unredacted Motion Reveals Collaboration between Biden White House and NARA to Concoct Classified Docs Case against Trump

Report: the WHO Makes Major Changes to the Pandemic Treaty, and They're Good Ones; But Will It Last?

Israelis Remember Hostages, Fallen Soldiers, Terror Victims as Passover Begins

She Survived a Death Camp. Facing Biden DOJ Charges, She Is Prepared to Die in Prison

Planned Parenthood Committed 392,712 Abortions, Received $699.3 Million in Taxpayer Funding in 2023

Student Loan Forgiveness: Morally Reprehensible and Legally Invalid

Columbia Classes Go Virtual Before Passover Amid Protests

Hundreds Accept Jesus Christ in Poland at Franklin Graham Rally

Grammy-Winning Christian Artist Mandisa Has Died: Report

How You Can Send Letters of Encouragement to Jailed Pro-Life Heroes

'Americans Cannot Allow the Biden Administration to Sign Away Their Birthright': Congressmen Warn of WHO Pandemic Agreement

Illegal Immigrants Being Moved into Soldiers' Home Where Veterans Must Pay to Stay

House Democrats Vow to Codify 'Rights' to Trans Surgeries, Hormones, Puberty Blockers

18-Year-Old Female Trans Student Charged for Planning Two Maryland School Shootings, Manifesto Said She Wanted to Be 'Famous'