Israel says its border crossings with the Gaza Strip will remain closed
Friday in response to ongoing Palestinian rocket fire that is further
straining a fragile truce.
Israel responded to a rocket attack
earlier this week by blocking shipments of goods into Gaza. The
crossings remained closed Friday for a third consecutive day, but Israel
says it is allowing some fuel into the Hamas-ruled territory.
Israeli
officials say Palestinian militants in Gaza continued their rocket
attacks on southern Israel Friday. There were no reports of injuries,
and no immediate claim of responsibility for today's attack.
Gaza's
Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh, urged all militant factions Friday to
respect the cease-fire agreement. He told reporters after Friday
prayers that his party remains committed to the deal.
A militant
group linked to the Fatah party of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
claimed responsibility for firing rockets into Israel in a separate
incident Thursday.
Hamas says the border shutdown violates the Egyptian-brokered truce deal, which requires Israel to ease its blockade of Gaza.
Palestinian
militants and United Nations officials in Gaza also accuse Israeli
troops of firing shots into Gaza on several occasions in recent days
and wounding two people.
Israel's military says there has only
been one incident in which Israeli troops fired warning shots into the
air, not causing any casualties.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
