JERUSALEM, Sept. 27 (Xinhuanet) -- Israeli artillery opened fire on the Gaza Strip on Tuesday night shortly after Palestinian militants launched a rocket at Israel, the military said in a statement.

   The Israeli army fired four artillery shells into an open area in northern Gaza Strip, from which Palestinians earlier fired rockets into the southern Israeli town of Sderot.

   No casualty was reported in the artillery and rocket attack.

   This was the first time that Israel has fired artillery shells on the Gaza Strip since its complete withdrawal from the territory on Sept. 12. 

   Earlier in the day, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz delivered a message to Hamas, saying that Palestinian militant groups should be careful.

   "We'll hit them and hit them and hit them until they understand that Israel will not accept shooting into its borders," Mofaz said near the border between Israel and northern Gaza Strip.

   "This artillery battery behind me is not just for show. It's operational ... and will react against any Qassam rocket attack," he said. 

   New violence erupted over the weekend as Palestinian militants intensified rocket attacks on Israel.

   The Israeli side responded by renewing raids and targeted killings as well as rounding up large numbers of militants in the West Bank. 

   The fresh tension has dealt a blow to an almost eight-month-old truce between the Palestinians and Israel. Enditem