Source: Al-Manar, 05-06-2008

One 'Israeli' settler was killed and four others were wounded when Palestinian resistance fighters in the Gaza Strip fired a mortar shell into the western Negev kibbutz Nir Oz on Thursday.

After the strike, it emerged that the "Color Red" early warning system did not alert of the coming shell prior to the attack, and that the casualties were inside an unprotected building.

The Magen David Adom emergency medical personnel said that one of the settlers was already dead when they arrived at the scene, and three others had suffered shrapnel wounds to the chest and abdomen. One person was hurt and was later diagnosed with shock.

The Palestinian resistance group Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack. Since Hamas seized control of Gaza a year ago, Palestinian resistance fighters have fired rockets into occupied territories almost daily. 'Israel' frequently responds with air-strikes and ground incursions into Gaza.

"We will confront the occupier with all our means and we will continue striking the Zionist military sites and settlements around Gaza in response to the continued aggression against our people," Hamas said in a statement.

Spokesman for the 'Israeli' Prime Minister's Office David Baker blamed Hamas for the attack and said it would be held accountable for salvoes into southern occupied territories.

Egypt has been trying to mediate a cease-fire between Hamas and 'Israel' and Thursday's attack is likely to complicate those efforts.

On Tuesday, seven Qassam rockets and four mortar shells hit the western Negev, with five rockets striking the Eshkol region in the western Negev. Five settlers were wounded in the rocket salvo.