GAZA CITY, Nov 26: Israel ordered restraint on Sunday after Palestinian militants fired a salvo of rockets at the Jewish state, violating a fledgling ceasefire less than two hours after it took effect in the Gaza Strip.

The rocket strike threatened the ceasefire agreement that came into effect at dawn and in which militants promised to halt rocket attacks in exchange for an Israeli withdrawal from the impoverished coastal territory.

The Israeli army completed its withdrawal from Gaza shortly after dawn, a military spokeswoman said.

The armed wings of the ruling Hamas movement and the Islamic Jihad, both of which signed on to the ceasefire accord, each claimed responsibility for the rocket attacks which hit the Israeli town of Sderot shortly before 8:00am (6:00 GMT), causing no casualties.

The attacks, which were condemned by both the Hamas-led government and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, marked an inauspicious start to the ceasefire which came into play at 6:00 am (4:00 GMT).

But Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, vowing restraint and patience in the coming days, said he had ordered the army not to respond to the attacks.

“We will show restraint and patience in order to give the ceasefire a chance,” said Olmert.

“I took into account the possibility that ceasefires do not materialize immediately to their fullest extent without any violations,” he added.—AFP