GAZA, July 8 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic Hamas movement said on Tuesday that Israel deliberately sought excuses to maintain a blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip and the border crossings with Gaza closed.

    Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum told reporters that "claiming that a mortar shell was fired from Gaza at Israel is an Israeli fabrication of media to find an excuse to keep Gaza Strip crossings closed and to keep the blockade imposed."

    Earlier in the day, an Israeli army spokesman was quoted by Israeli Radio Arabic service as saying that Gaza militants fired a mortar shell from northern Gaza Strip at the western Israeli area of Negev. No injuries or damages were reported.

    Since Israel and Palestinian militant groups led by Hamas agreed to an Egyptian-brokered truce on June 19, Israel has closed all Gaza crossings for five times following homemade rockets attacks carried out by Gaza militant groups who oppose the truce.

    "All the Palestinian factions and their armed wings accepted the truce and showed 100 percent commitment to the truce. They didn't violate the truce and Israel always looks for excuses to keep the blockade," said Barhoum.

    He also accused Israel for not being committed to the truce brokered by Egypt, adding that Israeli soldiers have repeatedly opened fire at Palestinian farmers approaching their farms near the Israeli borders and at Palestinian fishermen in the sea.

    Hamas movement routed security forces and rival Fatah movement loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and took control of the Gaza Strip following weeks of bloody infighting in mid June last year.