Israel hit by shelling, but not damage

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Palestinian terrorists continued to violate the cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, firing two mortar shells on Friday morning.

No casualties or damage was reported, after the shells landed in southern Israel.

On Thursday, a rocket struck the southern kibbutz of Gevim, causing no casualties. That attack prompted Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni to call for a military response to the violation of the week-old Egyptian-brokered cease-fire.

Al-Aksa Brigades, an armed wing of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah faction, claimed responsibility for the attack. The group called it retaliation for Israeli military raids in the West Bank, which are not included in the cease-fire.

Israeli defense officials, who suspended imports into Gaza after two separate shelling attacks Tuesday, had said they would reopen the Gaza-Israel border crossings Friday if there were no more shellings.

Tuesday’s attack, claimed by Islamic Jihad terrorists, wounded two people in Sderot. Israel did not retaliate militarily and Hamas, which controls Gaza, said it was trying to keep other factions from firing further rockets and mortars.

Israel says it holds Hamas responsible for any attack from Gaza.

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