Gaza militants fire katyusha rocket into South Israel

Palestinian militants fire a katyusha rocket into south Israel, signalling an escalation by armed groups in the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian militants fired a katyusha rocket into southern Israel on Sunday, Israeli police said, causing no injuries but signalling an escalation by armed groups in the Gaza Strip.

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Palestinian militants routinely fire small homemade "Kassam" rockets into southern Israel, but have managed to fire katyushas, which have longer ranges and can carry more explosives, just a handful of times. The last time a katyusha was fired was in March 2006.

Police said the rocket landed in an open area near the southern town of Netivot, 15 kilometres east of the Gaza border, igniting a small fire that was put out immediately.