WORLD> Middle East
4 rockets hit W Negev as Israel struck Gaza targets
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-03-08 20:03

GAZA -- Palestinian militants fired four rockets into southern Israel on Sunday after Israeli airplanes struck at Gaza Strip.

Israeli sources said that four rockets landed in open fields intwo Western Negev communities, causing no damage or casualties.

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A pro-Iranian group in Gaza Strip, calling itself Hezbollah of Palestine, claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it aims at responding to the Israeli measures in Jerusalem and the al-Aqsa mosque.

Last week, the Islamic Resistance Movement, or Hamas, which controls Gaza, arrested a member of the local Hezbollah group for keeping firing rockets into Israel despite Hamas' willingness to broker a ceasefire with Israel.

After midnight, Israeli F16 warplanes struck a wood warehouse in northeast Gaza city, destroying the store. In the meantime, the fighter jets continued attacks alongside Gaza-Egypt border, targeting tunnels used to smuggle goods into the blockaded Strip.

Israel rejected to cope with Egypt's efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza Strip due to internal political situation. Hamas and Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas also focused on fixing their internal house via reconciliation talks that launched in Egypt following Israel's major offensive against Gaza in December and January.