GAZA, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Israel shut down crossing points into Gaza on Tuesday in response to Palestinian rockets which hit its southern territories, Israeli radio reported.

    The decision was made by Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak and his deputy, Matan Vilnai, in response to two rockets fired from Gaza which Israel said landed in Western Negev.

    Israel started to apply gradual opening of the crossing points into the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip after Egypt brokered a ceasefire deal between the Jewish state and the Islamic movement last June.

    No Palestinian groups claimed responsibility for the rocket attacks which violated the ceasefire. The deal was intended to ease the Israeli blockade on the coastal Strip and restore the violence.

    The ceasefire helps to restore relative calm but Hamas says Israel still limits the flow of cargo into the impoverished territory and doesn't compensate the shortage that comes up when the crossings are closed due to the rocket attacks.

    Israel imposed the sanctions on Gaza last June after Hamas took over control of the territory by force.