Gaza terrorists continued to strafe southern Israel Friday morning as Operation Cast Lead entered its seventh day with thousands of IDF ground troops waiting patiently on the pre-1967 side of the security barrier for the government to decide whether and when to send them into the region to join the fray. At least 20 short and long-range rockets were fired by Gaza terrorists at southern Israel by 12:00 noon on Friday. Two people suffered slight shrapnel wounds and 12 people had been treated for severe emotional trauma. Large parts of the rocket-battered western Negev community of Sderot were without electricity after three short-range Kassam rockets came screaming into the city. One of the rockets struck a main power line, blacking out a number of neighborhoods. Israel Electric Company crews were sent to the scene to effect repairs and firefighters extinguished blazes ignited by the explosions in other areas. A long-range Grad-type Katyusha missile struck the outskirts of Ofakim late in the morning in an open area. No one was injured and no damage was reported. A similar missile exploded next to a kibbutz in the Ashkelon coastal region as well. Likewise, there were no casualties and no damage was reported. Earlier in the morning, barrage of seven missiles was launched towards the coastal city of Ashkelon shortly before 8:00 a.m. The apartment which was directly hit (through window at left). Israel News Photo Two Grad-type Katyusha rockets landed in a residential neighborhood, both scoring direct hits on two separate apartment buildings and severely damaging both. Two more rockets landed in open areas. According to Magen David Adom, one woman suffered shrapnel wounds and a number of other people were treated for emotional trauma in a two-story building. Several people were also being treated for emotional shock in a four-story building that was hit as well. Two short-range Kassam rockets struck the western Negev city of Sderot during the same launch. One resident was slightly wounded in the attack. A third Kassam rocket also hit the Netivot area. No casualties were reported in that attack. In the Sdot Negev region, one short-range rocket scored a direct hit on a greenhouse in an agricultural community. Two other rockets landed in open areas. Firefighters raced to the scene to extinguish any blaze ignited by the explosion. A number of residents in the various communities are being treated for severe emotional trauma following the attacks. Hamas has been widening the range of its attacks, but Israel's southern residents have been well-prepared by Home Front Command for the possibility and panic has been minimal. On Friday, another test of the Color Red incoming missile alert system was scheduled to ensure that Israelis in outlying communities on the outskirts of Be'er Sheva will be protected. Close Call Thursday Night One of the warnings issued by Home Front Command – to take cover if residents hear an explosion, whether the Color Red incoming alert system activates or not – saved many lives Thursday. One of the missiles launched by Hamas in the afternoon was apparently time to coincide with a test of the Color Red rocket warning system during repairs between Ashdod and Gedera, defense officials said Thursday night. The missile struck just eight minutes after the warning system was to have sounded as a test. As it happened, the system failed to activate on time. When instead it began to sound eight minutes later due to the incoming missile attack, many residents did not take cover, believing the siren they heard to be the delayed drill they had been warned about. Others, however, raced for cover. IDF officers said the timing appeared to be deliberate – and almost achieved its goal of enabling Hamas terrorists to strike civilians unaware. Home Front Command reiterates that residents should immediately take cover if they hear the siren sound, or if they hear an explosion.