Rocket from Gaza hits southern Israel, no casualties

JERUSALEM, March 26 (Xinhua) -- A rocket fired from Gaza Strip exploded on an open field in southern Israel on Tuesday night, breaking a day of relative calm at the Gaza-Israel border.

The short-range rocket triggered air raid warning sirens in the Eshkol Regional Council, local residents said.

"One launch was identified from the Gaza Strip towards Israeli territory," the Israeli military said in a statement.

The rocket blast caused no injuries or damage. It came shortly after an Israeli government official denied a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, an Islamist Palestinian organization that runs Gaza, was reached.

"There is no ceasefire and the fighting could restart at any moment, the official said, speaking on conditions of anonymity, adding that "it was decided to reinforce forces and be prepared."

An Israeli military spokesperson confirmed that more forces have been deployed along the fence between Israel the Palestinian enclave.

Additionally, more reserve soldiers will be called up, the spokesperson said in a statement.

The rocket broke a tense calm that was restored on Tuesday morning, after Israel pounded overnight Hamas military sites in Gaza with dozens of airstrikes and Gaza militants fired barrages of rockets at southern Israel.

At least seven Palestinians were wounded, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza.

The escalation of violence between Israel and Hamas in Gaza was triggered by a long-range rocket fired from Gaza that exploded in central Israel on Monday, injuring seven people.

Tensions have been rising along the Gaza-Israel fence since the Palestinians in Gaza staged weekly rallies from March 30, 2018 to protest the 12-year-long crippling blockade imposed by Israel and Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.