The armed wing of the Palestinian Islamist organization Hamas claimed responsibility today for an attack at the Kerem Shalom border crossing between Israel and Gaza, which, according to Israeli and Palestinian media, resulted in casualties on the Israeli side.

Israel’s military said 10 rockets were fired from Rafah in southern Gaza at the crossing, which it said was now closed to trucks carrying aid to the coastal enclave.

However, other crossing points remain open.

Hamas’ armed wing said it fired rockets at an Israeli military base near the crossing, but did not confirm where it fired them. Hamas media reported, citing a source close to the organization, that the crossing point was not the target.

At least one million Palestinians have taken refuge in Rafah, near the border with Egypt.

Israel has vowed to invade the southern Gaza Strip city and drive Hamas forces out of it, but faces growing pressure not to, as the operation could derail vulnerable humanitarian efforts in Gaza and put risk more human lives.

Today’s attack on the border crossing comes as hopes for a truce fade in talks being held in Cairo.

In a statement issued today, Hamas leader Ismail Haniya said the Palestinian organization wants to reach a comprehensive ceasefire agreement that would end the Israeli “offensive”, guarantee Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, and ensure a serious exchange of hostages with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons;

In his statement, Haniya also blamed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for “continuing the offensive and widening the circle of the conflict, and undermining the efforts made through mediators and various sides.”

For his part, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallad today accused Hamas of showing signs that it is not serious about reaching a truce and said that in that case Israel would launch military actions in Rafah and other parts of the Gaza Strip “in very short future”.