A terrorist missile from Gaza struck the courtyard of an empty school in Be’er Sheva Sunday afternoon. Another rocket damaged 15 houses. The city’s order to close all schools saved possible mass casualties.

More than 25 missiles were fired on southern Israel Sunday, several of them intercepted by the Iron Dome system, which automatically weeds out missiles that are aimed at open areas, but is not foolproof;.

The rocket attack on Be’er Sheva was not intercepted and caused widespread property damage as well as sending several people into shock.

A Be’er Sheva police officer said that if one of the missiles had exploded a few feet to the right or left of its impact site in a residential area, it would have directly hit an apartment building.

IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz reassured Israel that it “will continue to retaliate with force and sensitivity against any firing directed at Israel. Hamas and other terror groups continue to gain strength at an alarming rate. We do not seek escalation, but Hamas controls Gaza.”

Rockets also exploded in open areas in the western Negev, between Be’er Sheva and Ashkelon.

The IDF noted that all but one of the more than a dozen people killed in counterterrorist measures were terrorists.