Hamas militants killed two Israelis in a barrage of rockets that was fired deep into southern Israel on Monday.

Meanwhile, Israel has focused the force of its air assault on Hamas field operatives in Gaza.

Israel has focused the force of its air assault on Hamas field operatives in Gaza.

Israeli warplanes have bombed Hamas houses in a sweep meant to tear the militant organization at the roots.

The Israeli army said on Monday that Hamas militants sent a missile crashing into a bus station in the southern Israeli city of Ashdod near Gaza. Three people were injured, two of them seriously.

Another missile killed one person and seriously wounded another in the Negev desert community of Nahal Oz, closer to the Gaza border.

Earlier in the day, a missile killed a construction worker in the city of Ashkelon. Two more rockets hit the town of Sderot, smashing into homes. Several residents were taken to hospital suffering from shock.

Hamas' rockets came after Israel's intense bombings that began midday Saturday. Over 300 air strikes have killed almost 400 Palestinians, including 8 children.