A rocket fired by Palestinian militants in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip exploded near a school in Israel on Saturday, causing damage but no injuries, Israel's military said.The rocket, one of three fired from the coastal territory on Saturday, landed in the courtyard of a school in the Israeli city of Ashekelon, some 12 km (7 miles) north of the Gaza border. Shrapnel flew into classrooms. Authorities said the school was empty for the weekend. Israel has responded to similar attacks with air strikes.
Egypt has been trying to broker a long-term truce between Israel and Hamas to take the place of a shaky Jan. 18 ceasefire that ended a 22-day Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip. There have been almost daily exchanges of fire since then. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Saturday's rocket fire.