JERUSALEM, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni called Thursday for an immediate military response to Qassam fire by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip.
Her remarks came hours after a rocket hit the Negev
area earlier in the day, the fifth after the Egyptian-brokered truce went into
effect last Thursday.
"There was a similar breach of the truce several days
ago," Livni was quoted by the website of local daily Ha'aretz as saying at the
start of her meeting with Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere. "I don't
care who fired. Every breach must be met with an immediate military response. I
made my opinion clear to both the prime minister and the defense minister
following the first infraction, and I will make clear to my foreign counterparts
too."
Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said
that "only deterrent military strength and superior excellence lead to a swift
victory, and they are what will lead to peace. And when achieved, it will be
stable and long-lasting."
Earlier, a rocket hit an open area of the industrial
zone outside the city. There were no reports of injuries or damage, according to
army sources.
The Fatah-affiliated Aksa Martyrs Brigades claimed
responsibility for the attack. In a text message sent to reporters, it said "the
truce must include the West Bank and all sorts of aggression must stop."
It was the third time that the fragile cease-fire agreement was violated by attacks.
On Tuesday, the Islamic Jihad fired three Qassam rockets at the Sderot area, and a mortar shell was fired at Israel
the previous day.
On Thursday morning, Hamas accused Israel of
violating the terms of the Gaza cease-fire a day after Israeli Defense Ministry
decided that Israel would keep the Gaza border crossings closed Thursday, except
for special humanitarian cases, in response to Tuesday's Qassam rocket attacks.
"If the crossings remain closed, the truce will
collapse," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said Thursday morning.
The spokeswoman of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) told Xinhua that the Sufa crossing, the Nahal Oz fuel terminal and the
Karni crossing and the Kerem Shalom crossing were closed since early Wednesday
morning for the transfer of food, medicine and humanitarian equipment. The Erez
crossing in the northern Strip will open for the passage of Palestinians into
Israel for humanitarian treatment.
It was unclear when the transfer of goods into Gaza
would be resumed.
Local daily Jerusalem Post reported Thursday that
Israeli Defense officials planned to open the Gaza crossings on Friday if there
were no more violations of the cease-fire.