Palestinians step up Israeli attacks

GAZA, May 16 (UPI) -- Militants bombed a Christian school early Friday in southern Gaza City, witnesses said, as Palestinians stepped up missile and mortar attacks.

The intruders were said to have placed an explosive device by the school. There was no word on casualties, KUNA reported.

A barrage of six Qassam missiles was fired in two volleys at Sderot in Israel. One hit the Neve Shalom synagogue near a nursery school. Several people were treated for shock. Others landed around Shear Hanegev, starting fires.

Mortar shells crashed down in the Nahal Oz area. A rocket aimed at the Israeli town of Netivot east of the Gaza Strip, the day after a rocket wrecked the Ashkelon shopping mall and injured 100 people, exploded in open ground.