Israel says no cease fire in Gaza, rockets continue to fall

After a day of tense calm, Palestinians in Gaza fired a Qassam rocket at southern Israel late Sunday afternoon. No one was injured and no damage reported, the incident occurred shortly after the Israel Air Force targeted a terror cell in southern Gaza preparing to fire rockets. Throughout the day the army and emergency services remained on high alert in southern Israel after some 40 rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip at residential and open areas in southern Israel, Saturday and Sunday morning. Egyptian media reports claimed they had succeeded in mediating a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. However the halt in the rocket attacks lasted eight hours. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu denied reports claiming negotiations between Israel and Hamas mediated by Egypt had brought about a ceasefire. "There is no ceasefire," Netanyahu told reporters Sunday. Officials have yet to decide whether schools and colleges will remain closed on Monday saying decisions will be made in accordance with the situation. In Ashkelon, hundreds attended the funeral of Ami Moshe, 56 who was killed on Saturday night when a Grad rocket exploded near his car. Palestinian media reports from Gaza said a total of 10 Palestinians were killed in Israeli air force raids since the current escalation in violence erupted Saturday afternoon.