Tel Aviv  - Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak ordered the military to close crossing points into the Gaza Strip for one day on Tuesday, after Gaza-based militants fired a rocket into southern Israel Monday afternoon.

An Israeli army spokeswoman said the rocket, which landed near a kindergarten in the town of Sderot, caused neither damage nor injuries.

It marked the 40th launching of either a rocket or a mortar from the Gaza Strip since a truce between Israel and Gaza militias came into effect on June 19.

Hamas, which administers the Gaza Strip, hopes the truce will lead to an easing of the Israeli blockade on the impoverished enclave.

Israel has, however, said that the pace of the flow of goods into the Strip will depend on whether there is a cessation of rocket attacks from the Strip on southern Israel. (dpa)