Hamas, which controls the Palestinian territory of Gaza, has affirmed its commitment to the ceasefire with Israel that was declared after the 2008-9 Israeli offensive in Gaza, which left 13 Israelis and 1,300 Palestinians dead. In recent weeks, rocket and mortar attacks on Israel originating in Gaza have been on the increase, causing rising tensions amid fears of escalating violence between Israel and Hamas. In the last six days, at least 26 rocket and mortar shells have landed on Israeli territory, and on Saturday, an Israeli air strike in Gaza killed five militants.
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