Militant Palestinians continue rocket fire on Israel

Nov 16, 2008, 6:43 GMT

Tel Aviv/Gaza City - Palestinian militants continued launching rockets on Israeli border towns Sunday in defiance of Israeli threats to launch an offensive in the Gaza Strip.

Two rockets landed near the village of Nir Oz, an Israeli military spokesman said. There were no reports of damage or injuries.

On Sunday morning, Israeli radio quoted Defence Minister Ehud Barak as saying that the situation in the border area was 'intolerable' and could not continue.

The security forces were standing ready for a strong and painful operation on the other side of the border, Barak said in a speech Saturday evening.

Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, who is currently in the United States, said Saturday that Israel would intensify its response if the attacks resulted in any victims.

The five-month ceasefire between Israel and militant Palestinians in the Gaza Strip has become increasingly fragile in recent days.

The Israeli army says it has killed 10 Palestinians in operations in the past week, while militant Palestinians have fired over 100 rockets on Israel, it says.

The radical Islamist Hamas movement, which took control of the Gaza Strip in June, threatened to carry out more attacks Saturday.

Israel has sealed off the Gaza Strip in response to the most recent wave of rocket attacks. Border crossings remained closed Sunday.