Gaza missile kills one at kibbutz

Israelis have been protesting about continued rocket and mortar fire

Hamas militants have fired a barrage of mortars from the Gaza Strip, killing one person in Israel and injuring two.

One shell struck a factory at the Nir Oz kibbutz, which abuts the Gaza Strip.

Militants in Gaza regularly fire rockets at southern Israel, a response they say to Israeli military operations in Palestinian territory.

Israel has sealed off the territory and blocks all but essential humanitarian supplies, while launching regular raids in an attempt to counter militant fire.

"We will confront the occupier with all our means and we will continue striking the Zionist military sites and settlements around Gaza in response to the continued aggression against our people," Hamas said in a statement.

An Israeli government spokesman said Hamas would be held accountable for rocket and mortar fire from the Gaza Strip, which Hamas seized control of a year ago.

Aftermath of attack on Nir Oz kibbutz

Correspondents say the attack was a setback to Egyptian efforts to mediate a truce between Israel and Hamas.

Negotiations have been complicated by Israeli concerns about Hamas rearming, while Hamas ties any ceasefire to Israel lifting its blockade and releasing thousands of Palestinian detainees.

Militant rocket fire killed two people in Israel during May. The latest death brings to 16 the toll from such attacks since 2000.

About 500 people, nearly all of them Palestinians and more than half of them militants, have been killed in violence since the troubled Israeli-Palestinian peace process was revived in November 2007.