A Grad rocket fired from the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip landed in the Israeli city of Ashkelon on Tuesday morning but caused no casualties, Israeli officials said.
Ashkelon's mayor Benny Vaknin told Israel Radio that the Grad rocket "struck the heart of a residential neighbourhood".
Israel's foreign minister threatened Monday to keep hitting Hamas as long as it attacks Israel, ruling out contacts with the rulers of Gaza. Tzipi Livni's tough statement came as a Hamas delegation went to Cairo for talks Tuesday with Egyptian mediators on a long-term truce with Israel.
In Cairo, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said the movement would make its decision about a truce after a final round of talks with Egyptian mediators expected on Tuesday. The Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo late Monday night. According to the AP, he said the delegation would listen to "the summary of the Egyptian contacts and talks that have been conducted with the Israelis or other concerned parties."
In Syria, Mohammed Nasr, a member of the exiled leadership of Hamas, said the movement was ready for a one-year truce with Israel in exchange for reopening the Gaza Strip's borders and lifting the economic blockade.
