News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) The Al Qassam Brigades, a terrorist branch of Hamas, shelled the Nahal Oz base Friday night 24 hours after Israel said it was prepared for a continuation of the June 19 ceasefire, which has completely fallen apart in the past four weeks. Defense Ministry security-political chief Amos Gilad told Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman that Israel would re-open the Gaza crossings for commercial traffic if Hamas would cease attacks against Israel. The closings have been opened sporadically for shipments of humanitarian aid.

Hamas responded with mortar shells in the Nahal Oz base, seriously wounding three soldiers and lightly injuring four others. Military officials have expressed concern that Hamas is using advanced mortars that are more precise and deadly. Al Qassam said it shelled the base "as a response to Zionist aggression…and against the occupation."