The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Gaza City

Gaza gunmen resumed firing rockets into Israel overnight after the army killed three militants, raising tensions around the enclave after a two-day lull in violence, officials said on Wednesday.

The military wing of the Islamist Hamas movement that rules the Gaza Strip said in a statement it had fired more than two dozen mortar shells at three different targets inside the Israel overnight.

The volley was "to avenge the killing of three" members of Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades by the Israeli army late on Tuesday, it said. The army said it had fired at three militants planting explosives near the border fence.

The Islamic Jihad militant group said it had also fired seven rockets into Israel overnight.

In response, Israel said it would keep Gaza border crossings closed on Wednesday. The previous day it had said it would re-open them to allow aid shipments into the impoverished territory.

"Following the firing of mortars and rockets, the border crossings will remain closed," Israeli military spokesman Peter Lerner told AFP.

The escalation in violence comes after a two-day lull in hostilities, as Hamas said it would consider renewing a six-month ceasefire with Israel that expired on Friday.