Palestinian militants had fired three rockets into southern Israel on Tuesday afternoon, violating a fragile ceasefire, Israeli and Palestinian sources said.

Israeli sources said the rockets were fired from northern Gaza Strip which has been the scene of a large-scale Israeli offensive in November.

Today's home-made rocket attack was the fifth breach by the Palestinians of the ceasefire, they added.

There were no reports about casualties.

Saraya al-Quds, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad (Holy War) claimed responsibility for the attacks which targeted Sderot city in Israel.

In a statement faxed to the press, the brigades said that the attack came in response to the ongoing Israeli violations of the ceasefire and the aggression against the Palestinian people.

The statement noted that Israeli troops had arrested a senior Islamic Jihad militant in the West Bank city of Tulkarem.

The ceasefire, took effect in the beginning of this month, has prevented Israel from expanding Gaza military operations. But Israel insists that the ceasefire was only applied to the Gaza Strip despite the Palestinians' request for an extension of calm to the West Bank.

Source: Xinhua