Israel on Thursday extended the closure of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip for a second day following a sudden surge of violence that shocked an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire, a Palestinian official said.

Hatem Awaida, an aide to Hamas minister of economy, said four commercial crossings used to transport goods and fuel to Gaza remained closed with no immediate information on when to reopen.

Awaida said the sacked Hamas government based in the Gaza Strip has officially asked Egypt, which sponsors the ceasefire, to put pressure on Israel to call off the closure.

Israel shut the crossings on Wednesday in retaliation for barrages of rockets which hit its southern territories and the Western Negev.

Palestinian militants started to fire rockets to Israel early on Wednesday after Israeli forces killed six Hamas militants in air strikes on southern and central Gaza Strip.

The latest incidents were the most significant breach of the ceasefire which took effect in June, in line with which Israel should ease Gaza blockade in exchange for halt of Palestinian cross-border violence.

Israel sealed off Gaza commercial crossings in June 2007 after Hamas took over control of the Gaza Strip by force, allowing only reduced amounts of food and humanitarian needs into the destitute enclave.

Egypt also maintains the closure of its border with the Hamas- controlled territory, permitting only humanitarian cases to leave Gaza in pre-scheduled appointments.

Meanwhile, the Hamas interior ministry said the Rafah crossing point between Gaza and Egypt which was open since Tuesday will close on Thursday.

Ihab al-Ghussein, spokesman for the ministry, said more than 2, 000 Palestinians have crossed into Egypt over the past couple of days, most of whom were patients, students and foreign residents.

Al-Ghussein said 683 Palestinians, stranded in Egypt, also returned to Gaza during the period, adding that Egypt denied the departure of 704 people for not finding them as urgent humanitarian cases.

(Xinhua News Agency November 6, 2008)