Saraya al-Quds, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad (Holy War) movement, Monday claimed responsibility for launching a rocket from Gaza Strip into southern Israel.

In a statement sent to reporters, the brigades said that a group of its fighters fired one mid-range homemade missile into Sderot city in southern Israel in response to the Israeli army raids in the West Bank.

The rocket attack marked a fresh violation of a fragile Israeli- Palestinian ceasefire took effect in Gaza Strip in late November.

Despite the demand of the Palestinians side, Israel refuses to extend the truce to the West Bank, where the Palestinian side accuses Israeli army of carrying out daily raids and arrests.

On Monday morning, Israeli forces stormed Qabatiya neighborhood in northern West Bank city of Jenin, detaining two Islamic Jihad members amid exchange of fire that left a third Palestinian wounded.

In Nablus city, the Israeli army had also detained three Palestinians, according to Palestinian sources.

Monday's incidents came two days after Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, during which a prisoner swap deal involving a captured Israeli soldier and Palestinians held in Israeli jails was high on the agenda.

Source: Xinhua