Tel Aviv  - Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak ordered the crossing points into the Gaza Strip to remain shut Wednesday, Israel Army Radio reported, a day after militants in the salient violated a fragile truce by firing three rockets at southern Israel.

Under the provisions of the Gaza truce, militants are to cease their almost-daily rocket launchings at southern Israeli towns and villages while Israel is to no longer launch air raids on, and ground raids in, the Gaza Strip.

Israel has also undertaken to ease its blockade of the enclave, but the pace depends on negotiations for the release of an Israeli soldier held captive in the Strip for the past two years.

The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the rocket launchings Tuesday, saying they were in retaliation for Israel killing a senior Jihad militant and his roommate in the West Bank city of Nablus earlier in the day.

The West Bank is not covered by the Egyptian-brokered ceasefire, which went into effect at 0300 GMT June 19. (dpa)