Tel Aviv

The Israeli military on Sunday (May 5) shut the Kerem Shalom border crossing for humanitarian aid trucks, which is one of the most important routes into southern Gaza after rockets were fired towards the gateway.

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The Israeli army said that 10 missiles were launched from Rafah in southern Gaza towards the crossing.

The army however said that only the Kerem Shalom was shut and the rest remained open.

"Approximately 10 projectile launches were identified crossing from the area adjacent to the Rafah Crossing toward the area of Kerem Shalom," the army said in a statement, adding that the "Kerem Shalom Crossing is currently closed to the passage of humanitarian aid trucks".

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Later, Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack which as per Israeli and Palestinian local media reports resulted in Israeli casualties.

The armed wing of the Palestinian militant group said that it launched an air offensive targeting the Israeli army base by the crossing. 

Also read: Israel cabinet votes to shut down Al Jazeera offices in country; Hamas reacts

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However, the group did not share details about where it fired the rockets from.

As per the news agency Reuters, Hamas media quoted a source close to the Palestinian Islamist group saying the commercial crossing was not the target. 

'Ending Gaza war now would keep Hamas in power,' says Netanyahu 

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday (May 5) hardening his stance on the demands put forward by Hamas proposing an end to the war in Gaza in exchange for hostages, said that this would keep the Palestinian militant group in power.

However, he said that Israel was ready to halt the fighting in order to secure the release of hostages held captive by Hamas, which according to media reports are still numbered over 130.

"But while Israel has shown willingness, Hamas remains entrenched in its extreme positions, first among them the demand to remove all our forces from the Gaza Strip, end the war, and leave Hamas in power," Netanyahu said.

"Israel cannot accept that."

(With inputs from agencies)