Special report: Palestine-Israel Relations

    JERUSALEM, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- A Qassam rocket was fired Sunday afternoon from the northern Gaza Strip and landed in an open area in the southern Israel, causing no injuries or damage, reported an Israeli newspaper.

    There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, Ha'aretz reported on its website, adding this was the first rocket to hit Israel since Aug. 6, when one hit an open area also in southern Israel.

    However, Hamas movement said in a statement that Sunday's rocket attack from Gaza at southern Israel "is an Israeli untrue claim to justify closing Gaza border crossing points."

    "Announcing from time to time that rockets are still fired from Gaza at Israel, is just an untrue claim to justify keeping Gaza Strip border crossing points with Israel closed," Hamas said in the statement sent to reporters.

    Rocket firings have become rare since an Egyptian-brokered truce took effect on June 19. The cease-fire is meant to stay intact for six months.

    Israel has responded to such attacks by closing border crossings with the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.