Israel keeps Gaza crossing shut

Occupied Jerusalem: Israel on Friday refused to fully open crossing with the Gaza Strip as Palestinian fighters fired mortars into Israel.

Israel prevented food trucks from entering Gaza for the third day on Friday in retaliation for Palestinian rocket attacks this week, Israeli army spokesman Peter Lerner said.

A truce began in June 19, but after five days, the ceasefire was broken when the Islamic Jihad group fired rockets toward Israel.

The truce calls for an end to Israeli blockade of Gaza and Hamas attacks into Israel.

Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniya on Friday appealed to the factions to honour the truce for the good of Palestinians.

"We expect everyone to respect the agreement," he said in Gaza, "so that the Palestinian people achieve what they look for, an end to this suffering and breaking the siege."