Two people were killed Tuesday when a massive barrage of rockets hit the city of Ashkelon.

In one incident, a rocket hit the home in which two women took shelter, burying them both under the debris. One woman was killed and another was seriously injured.

MDA paramedic Israel Lugassi said that when his team arrived at the scene, they saw a one-story building that was damaged, and inside it was two women who were seriously injured. they rescued an 80-year-old woman from the building who was suffering from a very severe multi-system injury, provided her with life-saving medical treatment that included placing arterial blockages and stopping bleeding, and evacuated her to the hospital in a difficult and unstable condition.

Another woman who was fatally injured is being treated at the scene. The victim was a foreign caretaker.

A man was killed by another rocket impact.

Some 70 Israelis were injured and evacuated to Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon and Asuta Hospital in Ashdod on Tuesday. The majority suffered from light injuries or were treated for shock.

Several countries around the world condemned Hamas’ attacks on Israel and demanded that it cease targeting Israeli civilians.

Hamas has launched some 300 rockets at Israeli cities and towns in southern Israel in some 16 hours of constant attacks.

Jonathan Shrier, US Chargé d’Affaires ad interim in Israel, stated that the US “unequivocally condemn[s] rocket attacks from Gaza towards the south and central Israel, including Jerusalem. This is unacceptable.”

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas stated that “rocket fire on Israeli civilians is not justifiable under any circumstances – and certainly no contribution to resolving the conflict, but a senseless new escalation of violence.”

The UK’s Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State Dominic Raab said that his country “condemns the firing of rockets at Jerusalem and locations within Israel. The ongoing violence in Jerusalem and Gaza must stop. We need an immediate de-escalation on all sides, and end to the targeting of civilian populations.”

Czech Foreign Minister Jakub Kulhanek called for “an immediate halt to the rocket attacks targeted at Israel from Gaza yet again. We strongly condemn any incitement to violence and hope that further escalation of unrest in Jerusalem will be averted.”

The European Union’s (EU) Ambassador to Israel Emanuele Giaufret said that “the firing of rockets from Gaza to Israel is totally unacceptable and needs to stop. We need immediate de-escalation to step back from the brink and protect civilians.”

The Austrian Foreign Ministry called for “an immediate halt to the firing of rockets from Gaza into Israel. We unequivocally condemn such acts of violence and terror.”

Iran stated it was siding with the terrorists in Gaza.

The Presidency of the Knesset, chaired by Knesset Speaker Yariv Levin, announced Monday that it has set the date for the presidential election for June 2, 2021, in 23 days.

Those interested in running for office must submit the signatures of at least 10 MKs by Wednesday, May 19.

Levin expressed hope that “in these complex days the president who will be elected will be a person acceptable to all sections of the people.”

The president is elected by the 120 Members of Knesset.

The current president, Reuven Rivlin, has been serving as Israel’s 10^th president since June 2014.

Amir Peretz, former chairman of the Labor Party, initially announced his intentions to run for the presidency, but then backed out.

Famed singer Yehoram Gaon, Professor Shimon Shitrit, Miriam Peretz, and Jewish Agency Chairman Isaac Harzog, have also been mentioned as possible candidates.

The 11th President of the State of Israel is expected to enter office in July 2021.

Gaza-based terrorists launched a rocket toward Israel on Saturday night. The rocket exploded in an open area, causing no injuries or damages.

In response, Israeli Air Force (IAF) aircraft struck a Hamas military post in southern Gaza.

The last rockets attacks occurred two weeks ago when terrorists fired some 45 explosive projectiles at Israeli civilian targets.

Tensions remain high as Hamas has promised a further escalation this week toward the end of the Muslim month of Ramadan.

Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal threatened that the 28th day of the Muslim month of Ramadan, on May 9, will be the turning point in the “great battle against the Judaization and control of Jerusalem, and the attempt to divide the use of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.”

The 28th day of Ramadan coincides with Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day, in which Israel celebrates the liberation and unification of Jerusalem during the 1967 Six-Day War.

The 28th day of Ramadan marks the “Lil al-Qadr”, the most sensitive night in Ramadan with deep religious significance, in which the angel Gabriel brought down the Quran and opened the gates of heaven for prayers, according to the Islamic faith.

The IDF stated Saturday night that additional combat troops were sent to reinforce the Judea and Samaria Division in accordance with its ongoing situational assessment.

An Arab terrorist who threw firebombs at IDF forces operating in Samaria on Wednesday night was shot and killed.

The IDF stated that suspects threw Molotov cocktails at IDF troops during a routine operation near the village of Beita in Samaria.

The soldiers initiated an arrest procedure that included shooting at the suspects.

There were no Israeli casualties.

The incident will be investigated, the IDF said.

The terrorist was identified as Saeed Yusef Muhammad Oudeh, 16.