Israel has closed crossings into Gaza Strip following a rocket attack on the Israeli town of Sderot by Palestinian fighters. Monday's closures were the first during this Ramadan, the holy month of fasting.
According to Israeli press reports, the rocket hit an open area in Sderot, starting a fire but causing no casualties. The attack, the first in nearly three weeks, violated a June calm agreement between Israel and Hamas.
No one claimed responsibility for the rocket fire. In the past, Hamas rivals from Fatah took responsibility for such attacks.
Following the incident, Ehud Barak, the Israeli defence minister, ordered that the crossings be closed indefinitely. Hamas denounced the Israeli reaction as "sabotage" against the calm.
