Tel Aviv  - Hamas resumed its rocket attacks on southern Israel Friday morning, ending a lull during the night by launching at least seven Russian-type Grad missiles toward the southern Israeli coastal city of Ashkelon.

Three rockets landed inside the city of more than 110,000, located some 30 kilometres from Gaza's northern border, Ashkelon's police chief said. Two of them scored direct hits on residential buildings. Two Israelis were lightly injured.

Several rockets also landed in Sderot, a town located just a few kilometres north-east of the strip. Another struck Netivot. (dpa)