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Rockets from Gaza smash into Israel

— AFP

Direct hit: A damaged house in the southern Kibbutz of Tequma, Israel, on Wednesday.

DUBAI: Palestinian fighters in Gaza launched a barrage of rockets into Israel amid fresh diplomatic efforts to arrange a new ceasefire between the two. Nearly 60 Qassem rockets smashed into Israel, with 40 of them being launched between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Wednesday, said sources.

The rocket barrage followed the killing on Tuesday of three Palestinians by Israeli forces at the Gaza border. Five more fighters of the group Islamic Jihad were also killed later.

Analysts say the show of strength by the Palestinians could influence the coming talks for a renewal of the ceasefire which expired on December 19. The Palestinians have been unhappy that Israel frequently disrupted the flow of essential supplies through its border crossings into Gaza during the course of the ceasefire that had lapsed.

On Tuesday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to discuss ways to resume the ceasefire. Top leader of the Palestinian group Hamas, Mahmoud Al-Zahar also said on Tuesday renewal of the truce was possible provided Israel respected the terms of the ceasefire that had been worked out last June.

Fawzi Barhoum, spokesman for Hamas, said any new ceasefire proposal “should include lifting the siege and opening the crossing points.”

Nearly a dozen Palestinian rocket strikes were pinpointed. One of the rockets detonated close to a playground in the southern town of Netivot.

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