Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., September 16, 2008 Elul 16, 5768 | | Israel Time: 01:40 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Gaza crossings shut after Qassam attack By Haaretz Correspondent and AP , By Mijal Grinberg Defense Minister Ehud Barak yesterday ordered all Israel-Gaza border crossings closed in response to a Qassam rocket attack on Sderot launched by Palestinian militants. The Qassam hit Sderot earlier in the day, in a fresh violation of an Israel-Hamas truce in the Gaza Strip. Advertisement The rocket landed in a field in the southern town and sparked a brushfire. No one was hurt, although one man was taken to Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon to be treated for shock. It was the first such attack in nearly three weeks. The defense minister came to the decision after consulting with his deputy, Matan Vilnai, and other top-ranking security officials. The defense establishment will evaluate the situation on the ground today before deciding whether to continue the closure. Yesterday afternoon's attack was a violation of a June cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. Before the truce, rockets hit Sderot and surrounding communities almost every day. Islamic Jihad, which has argued that it is not bound by the terms of the cease-fire, claimed responsibility for this latest infringement. In the past, Israel has closed border crossings with Gaza in retaliation for rocket attacks. The last time was Aug. 26, when two rockets were seen being launched. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Saddam in Tel Aviv Israel's Igal Naor 'never wanted to play Hamlet, only Saddam.' The preacher Archbishop Tutu to UN: Israel may have committed war crime.

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