The army's press service told RIA Novosti that a total of six rockets were fired Monday on the town, home to around 22,000. All schools in the town are being evacuated.
The attacks came on the second day of the academic year, when children were making their way to school. Local media said 12 of the town's residents were admitted to a medical center after suffering shock.
Israeli internet news service Ynet quoted a local a local woman as saying: "My daughter called me terrified and hysteric. Now she has to start her school day in such a state. I still don't understand why they decided to open the school year in Sderot. Our children are studying under Qassam [rocket] fire."
Two Palestinian rockets exploded in the town on Sunday.
Parents in Sderot had intended to keep the children at home at the start of the school year due to security fears, but were reassured by authorities that extra measures were in place. On August 30 local parents' committee decided to open schools and kindergartens as scheduled.
