SDEROT, Israel, March 2 (UPI) -- Palestinian militants launched at least 20 rockets into southern Israel Sunday despite the Israeli military advancing three miles into Gaza.

Reports said around 20 rockets landed in the western Negev desert and the southern city of Ashkelon, slightly injuring several people, Ynetnews reported.

The attacks comes after the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas broke off contact with Israel in protest of Israeli military activity in Gaza, which Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said he has "no intentions" of stopping.

Various reports said at least 150 rockets were fired at southern Israel from Gaza since Wednesday.