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Last update - 01:08 01/07/2008 Israel closes Gaza border crossings once again in wake of Qassam By Fadi Eyadat and Shahar Ilan, Haaretz Correspondents and Reuters Tags: Qassam, Israel, Gaza The defense establishment decided late Monday to close the border crossings between Israel and Gaza after Palestinian gunmen fired a Qassam rocket into the western Negev Monday afternoon in violation of a cease fire agreement between Israel and Hamas. Two early warning "Color Red" sirens were heard in the Sha'ar Hanegev area and a rocket struck an open field shortly after. No injuries or damage were reported. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for what was the fourth such attack since the Egypt-brokered truce went into effect on June 19. Advertisement On Sunday, Israel reopened three of its border crossings with the Gaza Strip after cross-border rocket fire stopped. Israel had shut the crossings on June 25 after an Islamic Jihad rocket salvo which the Palestinian faction said was in retaliation for Israel's killing of one of its leaders in the West Bank. Other Gaza militants have also fired a rocket and two mortar bombs in two separate incidents. The Egyptian-brokered ceasefire requires militant groups to halt rocket fire in return for Israel gradually easing its blockade of the impoverished territory. Israel sharply cut back the supply of goods into the Gaza Strip a year ago, after the Islamic militant group Hamas took over the territory from forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas's more secular Fatah faction. Meanwhile Monday, the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee approved the extension of a "special situation" declared in Sderot and other communities along the border with the Gaza Strip. The special situation was declared in light of the ongoing Qassam and mortar shell fire from the Gaza Strip on Israeli communities. The declaration essentially transfers emergency authority from the state to the army. Therefore, the Israel Defense Forces Southern Command can determine whether or not schools will remain open, and the Home Front can order factories containing dangerous materials to close their doors. Related articles: Gaza truce shaken as four Qassams slam into west Negev Olmert: Israel mulling response to renewed Qassam fire Jihad threatens to continue rocket attacks, despite truce Bookmark to del.icio.us   Death penalty Iran hands down death sentence to man who spied for Israel. Robot hospital The place where IDF treats droids wounded in the line of fire.   1.   And people will say Israel is breaking the truce... 20:47  |  SteveS 30/06/08   2.   Why is it still being called a truce? 21:03  |  Jon 30/06/08   3.   1.Steve,israel should end the vile siege of Gaza and observe the 21:04  |  lakshmi 30/06/08   4.   Another view of our "illustrious" PM... 21:06  |  bat yam 30/06/08   5.   To Hamas - Time to Act 21:07  |  Mark of Lewiston 30/06/08   6.   response to #3 Lakshmi 21:15  |  SteveS 30/06/08   7.   what a peace,it`s time to show the gaza what peace is or war 21:32  |  hal tripp 30/06/08   8.   muslim truce means they can still shoot at Israeli, we just cant 21:32  |  Avram 30/06/08   9.   #3..Lakshmoe 21:36  |  Jabotinsky 30/06/08   10.   Israeli operatives... 21:41  |  Colorado Blew 30/06/08   11.   Patience 21:44  |  Mark Lincoln 30/06/08   12.   End of the truce 21:44  |  Dov 30/06/08   13.   Qassam 22:00  |  Ralph 30/06/08   14.   1&6 Steve,you`re quite mistaken about Hamas breaking truces as 22:03  |  lakshmi 30/06/08   15.   Lakshmi - the problem right now is the Palestinians 22:03  |  Mark Lincoln 30/06/08   16.   Laxative 22:20  |  David K 30/06/08   17.   Dov from Toronto, when are you moving to Israel? 22:21  |  Pervert 30/06/08   18.   Dov from Toronto, when are you moving to Israel? 22:21  |  Pervert 30/06/08   19.   And the olmert team will increase the openings in return 22:23  |  Arie 30/06/08   20.   Truce 22:30  |  Gabriel Allon 30/06/08   21.   the truce was brokered too many time by the savages once more 22:35  |  JP 30/06/08   22.   According to Shimon Peres: 22:46  |  Jeffrey 30/06/08   23.   Colorado Blew and Lakshmi - get real 22:54  |  Elihu 30/06/08   24.   American Anger at Israel 23:19  |  Fred McCann 30/06/08   25.   The truth 23:44  |  Mohammad 30/06/08   26.   Hamas better spank Al Aksa harder 23:45  |  Aphemia 30/06/08   27.   23 Elihu,15 Mark Lincoln,Elihu,excuses,excuses! 23:45  |  lakshmi 30/06/08   28.   lakshmi, how come for you 1 plus 1 = 39 ? 23:46  |  Joe Sittizen 30/06/08   29.   Israel´s enemies ´ve not more respect for her gov. than Israelis 00:12  |  AliciaYasmeen 01/07/08   30.   Splinter groups operating outside Hamas Law. 00:18  |  Stephen. 01/07/08   31.   Clean Up Vile Gaza 00:19  |  Brinda K 01/07/08   32.   send in jets and gun ships over gaza NOW 01:24  |  vik 01/07/08   33.   Fools! 01:28  |  Paul 01/07/08   34.   Siege! 01:30  |  Paul 01/07/08   35.   Our! 01:31  |  Paul 01/07/08   36.   Iakshmi # 14 Should Be? 03:49  |  Jeff Northridge 01/07/08   37.   G-D created the world in 6 days Olmert created a truce for 5 days 05:52  |  zionist forever 01/07/08   38.   Olmert, join your kids! Leave us alone!! 07:43  |  Jason 01/07/08   39.   What are a few harmless Qassams? 08:20  |  Dutch 01/07/08   40.   Border with Gaza 18:08  |  Nick 01/07/08   41.   Dutch 22:10  |  JW 01/07/08

Read & React U.S. State Department denies report Israel likely to strike Iran this year Responses: 289 New law: Israel to cede land only by referendum Responses: 186 Poll: 76% of Israelis feel safer as Jews in Israel than Diaspora Responses: 80 Palestinians who approach Gaza fence will be shot, says IDF Responses: 133 Haaretz.com TV / Kiryat Gat tells its girls: No romancing with Bedouin Responses: 101 Rosner's Domain Why do Arabs support Hamas over Fatah? The possibility of an Israeli air strike on Iran (WTR) New poll: Do you believe Israel might attack Iran? Israel's image still under renovation Is Time's Joe Klein being honest when he criticizes Joe Lieberman? More Headlines 20:21 Olmert: Don't interpret Israel's restraint in Gaza as weakness 22:35 State Dept. denies report Israel likely to attack Iran this year 18:47 Historic handshake: Barak meets Iraq's president in Athens 21:21 Palestinians: Settlers fire mortar shells at West Bank village 19:27 The French-Israeli fairytale 15:58 IN PICTURES: Snake meets mouse for lunch in Eilat 21:10 Israeli museum returns Nazi-looted artifacts to Polish owners 22:43 Lebanon villagers sleep outdoors in fear of major earthquake 22:27 Education Min. proposes plan to curb violence against civil servants 14:50 Lebanon: Hezbollah prisoner swap marks 'failure' for Israel 19:59 VIDEO / Kiryat Gat tells its school girls: No romancing with Bedouin 18:32 Kadima MK calls on press, politicians to cease talk of Barak investigation 17:57 Israeli Arab MKs petition court against law banning travel to enemy states 15:18 Former cellmate says Samir Kuntar never meant to kill anyone Previous Editions Select Day 30 jun 29 jun 27 jun 26 jun 25 jun 24 jun 23 jun 22 jun 20 jun 19 jun 18 jun 17 jun

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