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A Sderot boy inspecting damage caused to house by rocket strike (Albert Sadikov / Jini) Last update - 14:27 25/06/2008 Jihad threatens to continue rocket attacks, despite truce By Barak Ravid, Amos Harel, Yuval Azoulay and Fadi Eyadat Tags: Hamas, Gaza Strip  The Islamic Jihad militant group on Wednesday threatened to continue its rocket attacks on western Israel, despite a six-day truce agreement in the Gaza Strip. Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Wednesday ordered the closure of all crossings through which goods enter the Gaza Strip in response to Palestinian Qassam rocket fire on the western Negev a day earlier. The crossings were to have opened at 8 A.M. local time to allow for imports, increased in scale under the truce, to reach the impoverished strip. Advertisement But Israeli military liaison official Peter Lerner said the crossings would stay closed until further notice. "Any reopening will be in accordance with security considerations," he said. Sami Abu Zuhri, a spokesman for the Gaza Strip's Hamas rulers, accused Israel of bad faith in closing the crossings, where restrictions were tightened a year ago after the Islamist group took over the territory. "The closure by the occupation is a violation of the deal for calm in Gaza," Abu Zuhri said, referring to Israel. Hamas said it remains committed to a cease-fire with Israel, but would not act as Israel's police force in confronting militants who breech the truce. The comments by Hamas leader Khalil al-Haya came shortly after the militants fired three rockets into southern Israel on Tuesday, lightly wounding two Israelis. It was the first attack since the truce took effect last Thursday. Hamas said it was exerting pressure on Islamic Jihad, which claimed responsibility for the attacks, to stop the rocket fire and demanded that Israel open the crossings. But al-Haya said its forces would not confront rocket launching squads on the ground. "Even if there is a violation by some factions, Hamas emphasizes its commitment to the calm and is working to implement the calm," al-Haya said. "But Hamas is not going to be a police securing the border of the occupation," he added. "No one will enjoy a happy moment seeing Hamas holding a rifle in the face of a resistance fighter. Islamic Jihad's threat of renewed Qassam fire cam after it accused Israeli troops of shooting a Palestinian farmer as he worked his field in the village of Khuza, near the Gaza border. Palestinian medical officials said the man was wounded in the leg but there was no independent confirmation that he had been shot by Israeli forces. In Tel Aviv, an Israeli military spokeswoman said she had no knowledge of any such incident. "We will respond to every Zionist violation at the suitable time," Islamic Jihad spokesman Abu Hamza said. Israel: We will respond to rocket fire Security consultations conducted Tuesday by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Barak indicated that Israel would respond to a Qassam rocket attack that Israel described as a breach of the cease-fire which was agreed with Hamas last week. Israel was expected to respond to the rocket fire either by carrying out a pinpoint attack targeting Islamic Jihad, or by reducing the supply of goods entering the Gaza Strip. Since the cease-fire went into effect, Israel has increased the amount of goods entering the Strip by about 30 percent, as it committed to do in talks with Egypt. The rocket fire constitutes a "blatant violation of the cease-fire on the part of Palestinian groups in the Strip," Olmert said Tuesday, after being informed of the attack upon his return from Egypt, where he met with President Hosni Mubarak to discuss the cease-fire. Olmert and Barak "agreed on methods of response," the Prime Minister's Bureau said. "We will not provide further details." Senior security sources told Haaretz after the Qassam barrage that Israel would not be able to ignore the attack. Barring any further deterioration in the security situation, Israel is slated to weigh how to further increase the amount of goods entering Gaza. Gaza-area residents plan to hold a demonstration outside the Karni and Sufa crossings this morning to protest the transfer of goods into Gaza in the wake of the rocket fire. Two women went into shock when two of the rockets hit Sderot, a few hours after Palestinian militants fired mortar shells at the Karni crossing around midnight Monday. The third rocket hit an open area in the Negev. Islamic Jihad took responsibility for the rocket attack, which it said came in response to the death of a senior operative during an Israel Defense Forces raid in Nablus early Tuesday. A Hamas operative who worked with the wanted Jihad man was also killed in the raid. The Israel Defense Forces said troops shot both men to death, and that the Jihad man was armed with a rifle. In addition, four explosive devices and a large quantity of ammunition were found next to the gunmen. Islamic Jihad had told Hamas before the cease-fire went into effect that it would honor the agreement, a senior political source said Tuesday. The mortar shells were fired by Hamas, although the group did not publicly take responsibility for the attack, which caused no injuries. Israeli officials said the mortar fire appears to be a Hamas reaction to the wounding of a Palestinian civilian in northern Gaza on Monday, in a bid to show that Hamas will not stand by as Israel harms Palestinian civilians. The civilian, 68, appears to have been hurt by an errant IDF bullet. Related articles: Olmert: Israel mulling response to renewed Qassam fire Gaza truce shaken as four Qassams slam into west Negev Hamas: Arms smuggling to continue despite Gaza truce Bookmark to del.icio.us   Wimbledon shocker Shahar Peer knocks out 9th-seed Safina to slide into the fourth round. Time to hit Iran Israel must destroy Iran's nuclear program within one year or risk being attacked.   1.   Who really did break the truce? 08:29  |  Natallie Durson 25/06/08   2.   So the PA Media Got It Right 08:33  |  Mark of Lewiston 25/06/08   3.   A very good call and the right thing to do 08:36  |  Adrian de Klerk 25/06/08   4.   that`ll show them 09:06  |  vik 25/06/08   5.   Now let`s hear them rant 09:09  |  Ilan 25/06/08   6.   Ostracize this behavior 09:15  |  Sebastian 25/06/08   7.   MARK Of L Nothing errant about Qasssems fired at Israelis ! 09:25  |  PETER SM 25/06/08   8.   Your wrong again Natallie 09:45  |  August West 25/06/08   9.   to Durson 09:53  |  Harry 25/06/08   10.   aCTUALLY nATALLIE YOU SAID iSRAEL WOULD BE THE FIRST TO BREAK THE 09:56  |  aUGUST wEST 25/06/08   11.   To 1,2, 10:03  |  Jozef 25/06/08   12.   Like little Mahmoud Natallie? 10:04  |  August West 25/06/08   13.   The cease fire did not include the West Bank 10:11  |  Jos 25/06/08   14.   Nablus is not in Gaza 10:14  |  Yoel 25/06/08   15.   #2 And the IDF tells the truth. Mark 10:19  |  x-ray 25/06/08   16.   #1 Natalie 10:27  |  sammy 25/06/08   17.   The Fall of the Damascus-Gaza regime 10:34  |  Clicksage 25/06/08   18.   5 Peter SM - What was the bullet supposed to hit? 10:45  |  Mark of Lewiston 25/06/08   19.   9 Jozef - Quoting the Article 10:48  |  Mark of Lewiston 25/06/08   20.   11 Jos - The Farmer was in Gaza 10:53  |  Mark of Lewiston 25/06/08   21.   look these guys come from a tempremental people 10:55  |  meir 25/06/08   22.   12 Yoel - The Farmer was in Gaza 10:57  |  Mark of Lewiston 25/06/08   23.   an israeli intelligence officer when asked 10:58  |  meir 25/06/08   24.   hamas did try to connect the gaza truce with the west bank 11:00  |  meir 25/06/08   25.   1 Natalie - Read More 11:01  |  Mark of Lewiston 25/06/08   26.   IT SHOULDN`T BE TOO LONG 11:12  |  Robert 25/06/08   27.   Shame that Hamas can`t be honest and admit they broke ceasefire 11:16  |  Paul 25/06/08   28.   closing of crossing 11:33  |  rahcel simson 25/06/08   29.   Meir #16 U R 100% correct on tempremental people 11:40  |  Ari ben Yisrael 25/06/08   30.   Israel is Israeli officials are always adding insult to injury 11:54  |  Dutch 25/06/08   31.   Natallie Durson #1 Are you OK? 11:59  |  S 25/06/08   32.   To Natalie Boohoo and Mark of Lewiston 12:08  |  Yossi 25/06/08   33.   Israeli officials are adding more insult to injury 12:11  |  Dutch 25/06/08   34.   Legitimate response 12:38  |  Malka Leifer 25/06/08   35.   Re.:Who really did break the truce? 12:41  |  Axel Matter 25/06/08   36.   Same old stupid Pal tactics 12:49  |  MR 25/06/08   37.   Face It FOLKS, Hamas broke the Truce 13:01  |  FOX 25/06/08   38.   UNBELIEVABLE 13:09  |  thinking clearly 25/06/08   39.   Natalie #1, You really are incapable.. 13:14  |  FOX 25/06/08   40.   Barak is right 100% right. Unless the Palestinians learn to 13:18  |  Akram Zekaria 25/06/08   41.   Hamas controls Israel 13:19  |  will 25/06/08   42.   Arab Logic / Natallie 13:21  |  RF 25/06/08   43.   The farmer was in Gaza but it was an `errant bullet` 13:31  |  x-ray 25/06/08   44.   Israeli Officials must stop shifting the blame onto Hamas. 13:48  |  Dutch 25/06/08   45.   14, 13:48  |  Jozef 25/06/08   46.   Well done 13:53  |  KUTW 25/06/08   47.   Malka Leifer 13:58  |  Steve 25/06/08   48.   #20 Alex, WHY? 14:02  |  Kevin 25/06/08   49.   I`ve said it before, and I`ll say it again 14:07  |  Johnboy 25/06/08   50.   The Truce, "Shaken" and stirred 14:13  |  FOX 25/06/08   51.   Errant qassams in response to errant IDF bullet? 14:18  |  Roo 25/06/08   52.   #1 Natalie Durson 14:24  |  Jim 25/06/08   53.   The Red Line Israel must declare. 14:26  |  Akram Zekaria 25/06/08   54.   Old analysis: Who will be the first to violate the cease fire? 14:29  |  Tosefta 25/06/08   55.   Better go slow in the West Bank 14:31  |  Tosefta 25/06/08   56.   MARKof L. Errant is errant,deliberate is deliberate 14:34  |  PETER SM 25/06/08   57.   tosefta the truce deliberately left out the west bank 14:51  |  harzion 25/06/08   58.   HOW LOW ISRAEL CAN GO? 14:52  |  indrajaya 25/06/08   59.   #1 Durson.....one does not have to be a genius 14:56  |  Lynn 25/06/08   60.   Mark of L @2 14:56  |  GABE1 25/06/08   61.   to natallie no.1 15:11  |  ze`ev 25/06/08   62.   ROO the Qassems were fired to kill but do not worry about it 15:12  |  PETER SM 25/06/08   63.   JUST AS I PREDICTED 15:14  |  * BEN JABO 25/06/08   64.   Tosefta wants the IDF to give the arrests to Abbas 15:15  |  x 25/06/08   65.   #18 meir - just where did you get that from 15:16  |  * BEN JABO 25/06/08   66.   Tosefta go slow in the WB, put it into 5th with Israeli elections 15:24  |  Ramius 25/06/08   67.   IF HAMAS Can`t or won`t controll Jihad etc.whats the point other 15:28  |  PETER SM 25/06/08   68.   #2 Mark of Lewiston Ho! Ho! Ho! 15:29  |