Palestinian fighters in Gaza have fired three rockets into Israel, causing no casualties but putting further strain on the truce.

The Qassam rockets aimed at Israeli communities southeast of the fenced-off Gaza Strip landed in open fields on Thursday, Palestinian officials and the Israeli army said.

Fighters also fired seven mortar shells at Jewish settlements in Gaza, injuring no one.

On Wednesday, fighters launched 31 mortars into settlements in the territory after a Hamas member was killed in disputed circumstances.

Israel responded with a missile strike from an unmanned drone on a mortar squad, killing one fighter.

That drew fresh threats by Hamas to abandon the ceasefire before Israel's planned withdrawal from occupied Gaza in August.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was to consult security chiefs later on Thursday to decide on a further response to the mortar and rocket attacks, Israeli radio stations reported.

Hamas accused

A Palestinian Interior Ministry official on Thursday accused Hamas of sparking a clash in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday that wounded three members of the Palestinian security forces.

Fighting in Khan Yunis broke out after the security officers tried to stop a group from firing mortars at a Jewish settlement.

A Palestinian Interior Ministry spokesman, Tawfiq Abu Khusa, told Aljazeera: "There is no doubt that Hamas participated in the incident in collaboration with activists from the Abu al-Rish Brigades in Khan Yunis."

"Opening fire at Palestinian police by armed Palestinians is a dangerous act that is unacceptable and unforgivable," Abu Khusa said.

Security officials in the area have identified some of the attackers as Hamas members, he said.

PHOTO CAPTION

Palestinian carry the body of Ahmed Shahwan, 24, during his funeral in Rafah refugee camp in southern Gaza Strip.(AFP)