Israeli: 'How would you feel if your children were constantly scared?' By Frederik Pleitgen, CNN November 15, 2012 -- Updated 2254 GMT (0654 HKT) Israeli town 9 miles from Gaza has had 20 rockets aimed at it Resident: Gazans don't want peace Rocket attacks occur more often in the morning, men at pizza shop say Ashkelon, Israel (CNN) -- The town of Ashkelon, about 15 kilometers from Gaza, has suffered many rockets attacks. "We can't go on like this," Mayor Benny Vaknin said. We have 131,000 people here and 26,000 children. They are constantly under threat. Fear, celebration in Gaza City Vaknin said 20 rockets were launched at Ashkelon in the past 24 hours. The city has an air defense system, the Iron Dome, which is designed to shoot down incoming rockets. At Porto Pizza, in downtown Ashkelon, several men playing a game of backgammon had similar things to say. "They don't want peace," said Rafel Moshe, speaking of the people in Gaza. How would you feel if your children were constantly scared? Q & A: What's behind the conflict The men said rocket attacks are typically worst in the mornings. Most of the patrons approved the current Israeli military operation. "What we need is a big boom and then it will be quiet for two years," Moshe said. CNN's reporting crew could hear Israeli warplanes in the sky just after midnight in Israel and earlier heard in the distance the sound of shelling. It was unclear if it was outgoing rockets or bombs being dropped.