Palestinian militants have fired four rockets into southern Israel, slightly injuring at least one person.

The Islamic Jihad militant group said it carried out the attack on the town of Sderot.

It came as Israeli officials said threats from Israel had stopped Hamas militants from firing rockets.

Hamas ended an informal ceasefire amid escalating tensions following the deaths of eight Palestinians on a Gaza beach last Friday.

Israel has denied military responsibility for the deaths near Beit Lahiya, but Palestinians have dismissed Israel's claims and are calling on the United Nations to hold an independent investigation.

'Clear messages'

Since the deaths, Hamas has fired a dozens of home-made rockets at Israel, causing panic and several injuries.

Israel frequently bombards northern Gaza, targeting militant rocket crews who attack nearby Israeli territory.

A senior Israeli defence ministry official, Maj Gen Amos Gilad, told Israeli Army Radio on Thursday that attacks by Hamas had fallen after threats from Israeli officials, the Associated Press news agency reported.

"We sent clear messages... and at the end the firing of the rockets stopped," he was quoted as saying.

Israeli media reports said Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya had asked his Hamas group's armed wing to stop the attacks, but Hamas officials denied this.

 Photo Caption

Rocket victim Receiving treatment