Police arrested on Sunday five Israeli Arabs in the northern city of Umm al-Fahm suspected of planning to carry out a terrorist attack in Israel.

Earlier, the Wadi Ara region was placed on high alert after police received information that a suspected terror cell had infiltrated the Israeli Arab area which borders with the West Bank.

Security forces blocked the main road between Barkai and Megiddo junctions, causing a heavy traffic jam behind the closed portion.

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The road was later opened, but all four entrances to the town of Umm al-Fahm remained closed. Police checked all vehicles leaving the town, including ambulances.

Also Sunday, a Palestinian man was shot and killed Sunday as he was trying to steal equipment from the Gaza airport near Rafah.

An Israel Defense Forces spokesman said the army had no knowledge of the incident and there were no troops in the vicinity at the time.

Palestinian security sources said their forces opened fire on civilians who were trying to steal equipment.

The sources said the security forces subsequently exchanged fire with IDF soldiers, and 30-year-old Mussa Abu Snina was killed by IDF fire.

Two Qassam rockets were fired into Israel Sunday morning, one landing in Sderot and the other in the western Negev, close to the Gaza security fence north of the Karni crossing.

Magen David Adom paramedics treated one woman in Sderot for shock. No other injuries were reported, but a structure was damaged.

On Friday night, protesters rallied outside the Sderot home of Defense Minister Amir Peretz demanding greater protection against Qassam rockets.