Sderot Protest against Rocket Attacks
Sderot Protest against Rocket AttacksIsrael News Photo: (archive)

Defense Minister Ehud Barak has ordered the closure of Gaza crossings Tuesday as retaliation for the Kassam rocket attack in the center of Sderot Monday night. No one was injured and there was no damage in the explosion, but the impact site was a short distance away from a home that was struck in a previous attack.

The Kassam attack was the third in a week and the 40th violation of the temporary ceasefire that went into effect seven weeks ago. The truce calls for Israel to halt all counterterrorist operations in Gaza.

The Defense Minister previously has closed the Gaza crossings following rocket attacks but did not repeat the sanctions until after Monday evening's rocket strike. Barak, who also is chairman of the Labor party, said Sunday night that the ceasefire is working, and he contradicted numerous statements that a full-scale counterterrorist operation in Gaza is imminent.

Barak, who also is chairman of the Labor party, said Sunday night that the ceasefire is working.

He explained that a full-scale invasion eventually would require Israel to agree to a ceasefire similar to the one now in effect.



Hamas has blamed other terrorists for most of the ceasefire violations and has accused Israel of breaking the truce by not re-opening the Rafiah border. Israel has said that the agreement calls for opening up the border when kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit is freed.