A day after a Hamas delegation left Egypt without an agreement on a long-term Gaza truce, terrorists in the Strip fired two rockets at southern Israel.
A rocket fired by Gaza terrorists at the western Negev. [file]
Photo: Channel 10
One of the rockets landed near a kibbutz in the Sha'ar Hanegev region, while the other hit an open area south of Ashkelon.
No one was wounded and no damage was reported in the Friday morning attacks, which came days after Prime Minister Ehud Olmert emphasized to the cabinet that Israel would respond "disproportionately" to the continued rocket fire.
On Thursday night, meanwhile, IDF troops foiled an apparent terror attack when they gunned down an armed Gazan who approached the border fence near Kibbutz Ein Hashlosha.
The soldiers, from the Golani Brigade, opened fire at the Palestinian after he brandished a hand-grenade, which exploded when the man was shot.
There were no casualties among the troops.
The troops searched the area on the Gaza side of the fence before returning to Israel.
The army said it appeared that the Palestinian intended to infiltrate the kibbutz and carry out a terror attack.
IDF officials stressed that while it was an isolated incident it "demonstrates the need for a high level of alert in the Gaza area."
The Gaza Division ordered forces in the Gaza periphery to be prepared for every eventuality when Palestinians approach the border fence, on the assumption that terror groups would continue to try and attack IDF soldiers.
Israel unilaterally halted its counter-terror operation in Gaza on Jan. 18, and Hamas followed with an announcement that it would hold its fire.
Nevertheless, Gaza terrorists have continued to fire rockets into Israel, and last week, an IDF soldier was killed in a border bombing attack.
AP contributed to this report
