Israelis ran for the safety of bomb shelters on Wednesday when Islamic Jihad fired over 40 rockets into southern Israel. Then they sought shelter gain Thursday morning when sirens alerted them of another rocket attack.

The attacks couldn’t come at a worse time for Israeli citizens who had been partaking in festivities leading up to Purim, a Jewish holiday with carnival-like traditions. Fairs and parties have been held all over the country before the holiday starts on Sunday night.

Terri Davis, a resident of Ashkelon located near the Israel/Gaza border, stated how difficult it was for her and her preschool students during the attack.

“When we heard the sirens, 70 children and 15 adults crowded into the shelter,” she said. “The children, who were dressed in costumes, had been happy and singing when the siren went off, and I saw panic in their eyes. But the teachers and soldiers who had come for the party kept the children calm, singing and dancing.”

Other difficulties for the residents near the Gaza border included not being warned about the first round of attacks. Adele Raemar who lives a mile from the Gaza border only took shelter after he heard an explosion.

“There was no warning, no red alert,” Raemer said, referring to the system that warns residents near the border of imminent attack. “The windows shook. My son and I and our two dogs ran into my shelter.”

Although tensions are high between Israel and Gaza, Raemer felt compassion for the Gaza families who lived near the border.

“I’m sure the man on the street in Gaza just wants to put bread on his table and have his kids go to school and come home safely,” Raemer said. “Unfortunately, the people of Gaza haven’t been able to [stop] the Iranian-backed organizations that are making their lives as miserable, if not more miserable, than ours.”

Gaza militants fired more than 40 rockets within two hours into southern Israel on Wednesday making this the largest rocket barrage to hit Israel since 2012 according to the Israeli military.

Only three of the rockets were intercepted by Israel’s “Iron Dome” while eight hit populated areas. The rest fell in open areas.

The Islamic Jihad militant group behind the attack wanted vengeance for three of their members who were killed in an Israeli airstrike the day before. Additional Gaza militant groups also joined in on the attack including the Popular Resistance Group.

In retaliation to the attack, the Israeli air-force attacked several Jihad training camps.

“This retaliation was precise and prompt. We targeted the infrastructure that serves the terrorists while they train, plan and implement their hideous attacks. They will not be permitted to conspire in the safety of their terrorist temples,” Israeli Military spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised to continue the retaliation.

“We will continue to thwart (rocket attacks) and hit those that want to harm us, and we will act against them with great force,” Netanyahu said. “Last year, the number of rockets fired from Gaza was the lowest in a decade but that is not enough. We will continue to act to ensure the security of the citizens of Israel in the south and in the entire country.”

So far in 2014, Gaza militants have fired 32 rockets toward Israel before Wednesday’s attack.

No casualties were reported on either side Wednesday.