Palestinian Militants In Gaza Fire A Russian-made Rocket Into Israel

October 7, 2007 2:41 p.m. EST

Jerusalem, Israel (AHN) - Palestinians fired a Russian-made Katyusha rocket into southern Israel on Sunday, Israeli officials say. However, no injuries were reported as the military-grade rocket fell in an open area outside the southern Israeli town of Netivot, reports say.

The use of longer-range rocket by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip indicates the mounting tensions and strengthening armed groups in the region. According to the Associated Press, Palestinian rebels have mainly used small homemade "Kassam" rockets with smaller projectiles.

Kassam rockets cannot carry heavily explosives like the 122mm Katyusha. Moreover, Katyusha rockets can hit targets about twice the range of the locally-made Kassam projectiles.

The last time a Katyusha was fired into the Israel was in March 2006. This time the rocket fell in an open area about seven miles from the northern Gaza boundary. It caused a small fire that was put out immediately, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told Gulfnews.

Meanwhile, a small Palestinian militant group in the Gaza Strip, The Popular Resistance Committees, took the responsibility.

Israeli Officials have claimed in the past that Hamas and other Palestinian terrorists smuggle military-grade arms in the Strip over the border with Egypt.