CBNNews.com - ASHKELON, Israel - By late morning on day 14 of Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip, Palestinians fired more than 30 rockets, missiles and mortar shells on southern Israeli cities and towns.

Ashdod, Ashkelon, Beersheba and the Sha'ar Hanegev and Eshkol regional councils were hit.

Several people were wounded by shrapnel and others treated for shock.

On Thursday evening, the Shin Bet (General Security Agency) said more than 450 rockets and mortar shells have been fired on Israel since the beginning of Operation Cast Lead 14 days ago.

While the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) operation in Gaza has destroyed many rocket launch pads, weapons warehouses where the missiles and mortar shells are stored - it has yet to put the terrorists out of business.

By late Thursday afternoon, some 25 rockets fell on Israeli towns, one damaging a school and sports center in Ashkelon and another landing near a kindergarten in the Eshkol region.

No one was injured because the buildings were empty.