Hamas, Islamic Jihad deny firing rockets from Gaza into Israel

Leaders of Islamic Hamas movement and the Islamic Jihad (Holy War) denied late on Tuesday firing any rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel.

Ismail Radwan, a senior Hamas leader in Gaza told Xinhua that his movement is not aware of firing any rockets from Gaza into southern Israel, adding "the Palestinian factions are committed to the ceasefire agreement."

Meanwhile, Khader Habib, a senior Islamic Jihad leader in Gaza also told Xinhua that his movement is not responsible for firing any rockets from Gaza into Israel.

"I affirm that the Islamic Jihad Movement hasn't fired any rocket from Gaza into our occupied Palestinian territories," said Habib, adding "the Israeli media reports are baseless and untrue."

Habib added that "Israel is using such excuses and lies to prepare for launching a new aggression on the Gaza Strip."

It is the fifth time that Israel says militants from the Gaza Strip had fired rockets from the coastal enclave into Israel.

Earlier on Tuesday, a huge explosion was heard in western Gaza city which was a result of a rocket that exploded during launching it from northern Gaza Strip into Israel, security sources and witnesses said.

However, the Israeli media reported, quoted the Israeli army as saying that five rockets were fired from northern Gaza Strip, four landing on opened areas near the Israeli towns of Ashkelon and Ashdod.

Witnesses in Gaza city said they heard a huge explosion that wrecked the western area of Gaza city, adding that the explosion was a result of a rocket that was fired from Gaza into Israel, but failed and landed in western Gaza.

Security officials in Gaza confirmed that the explosion was a result of a rocket that failed to be fired into Israel, while medical sources said no injuries were reported.

The Israeli media also said that the Israeli army declared a status of emergency after four rockets fired from the Gaza Strip and landed into Israel, causing no damages or injuries.

Last month, a rocket launched from the Gaza Strip landed in the local community of Sha'ar Hanegev, again not causing any damages or injuries. Another rocket landed in November in the Eshkol regional council in the south.

On August 26, Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire agreement after a 50-day war in which thousands of rockets were launched to communities throughout Israel.

The war resulted in the deaths of more than 2,200 Palestinians and nearly 80 Israelis and massive destruction to Gaza's infrastructure. Enditem