Tel Aviv  - Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak ordered the military to open the country's border crossings with Gaza on Tuesday to allow trucks with basic humanitarian supplies to enter the strip for the fifth time in more than one month.

Some 40 trucks with basic food products and medical supplies of the United Nations and other aid organizations were passing through the Kerem Shalom crossing with southern Gaza, Israel Radio reported.

Israel also opened the Karni crossing for commercial goods with central Gaza to some 30 more trucks transporting grains. Cooking gas and industrial diesel for Gaza's power plant would be allowed in through the Nahal Oz fuel crossing as well, the radio said.

Israel made the move after a lull in rocket attacks from the strip Monday.

An Israeli military spokesman said militants launched one rocket from the strip Monday, but it did not fall inside Israel. On Sunday, 10 rockets and mortar shells were launched into Israel from the strip, he said.

In total, militants fired some 250 rockets and mortar shells from Gaza since a fragile truce between Israel and militant factions in the strip began falling apart on November 4.

Since then, Israel has slapped a near-total closure on the strip, allowing in only "essential humanitarian supplies" and closing its borders to everyone else, including - in a sharp departure from past policy - journalists and diplomats. (dpa)