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oPt

oPt: Israel shuts Gaza crossing after rocket attack

(Adds border closing)

JERUSALEM, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Militants from the Gaza Strip fired a rocket into southern Israel on Thursday in violation of a ceasefire and Israel temporarily closed its borders with the Hamas-controlled territory in response, officials said.

The rocket landed near the city of Sderot but there were no casualties or damage, police said. Shortly after, Israel's defence ministry ordered the closure of all border crossings with the Gaza Strip.

Defence officials did not say when they would be reopened.

The rocket fire came in violation of a June ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Islamist Hamas group. Hamas had agreed to halt rocket attacks in return for the gradual lifting of a blockade Israel imposed on the Gaza Strip two years ago.

The truce has largely held, though Palestinian militants have occasionaly fired rockets into Israel, spurring the Jewish state to temporarily close its border with the coastal enclave.

(Writing by Ari Rabinovitch; Editing by Louise Ireland)