A rocket was fired from the Gaza Strip at Israel today, the Israeli army announced, just a few hours after the two main crossings into the Palestinian territory were opened as a sign of progress in the negotiations between Israel and Hamas on a cease-fire.
As stated, the missile did not fall on Israeli territory, but it activated the anti-missile warning sirens in the south of the country. No one immediately claimed responsibility and there was no Israeli response.
Egyptian mediators have been trying to broker a ceasefire between the two bitter enemies in recent days.
The negotiations, however, are constantly hampered by Palestinian rocket attacks and retaliation by the Israeli army.
The violence escalated last Sunday just before parliamentary elections in Israel scheduled for April 9.
Early this morning, Palestinian extremists fired rockets into Israel and the country responded with tank fire.
However, Israeli and Hamas officials later confirmed that despite this, the Erez and Kerem Shalom border crossings were open for the first time since Monday, when Palestinian extremists fired a rocket that hit a house north of Tel Aviv, wounding seven people and sparking six days of clashes.
The opening of the crossing is seen as a sign that Egypt's efforts are succeeding. Hamas officials say the deal includes an easing of Israel's blockade of Gaza in exchange for a lull.
Four Palestinians, including three 17-year-olds, were killed in mass demonstrations on the Gaza border on Saturday.
Tens of thousands of people took part in a mass protest marking the first anniversary of demonstrations against the Israeli and Egyptian blockade along the border fence that separates Gaza from Israel.
Yesterday it was announced that these protests, which were usually held on Fridays, will continue for the second year in a row.
In a year of protests, almost 200 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire. During the demonstration, an Israeli soldier was also killed by a Palestinian sniper.
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