JERUSALEM - TWO Palestinian rockets were fired into southern Israel from the northern Gaza Strip early on Monday, but exploded without causing any casualties, an Israeli army spokesman said.

One of the short-range rockets hit wasteland while the other fell on a farm causing slight damage.

This latest rocket attack came despite a ceasefire declared January 18 after the three-week Israeli operation in the Gaza Strip that killed 1,330 Palestinians.

On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert consulted key cabinet members on Egyptian-brokered Gaza truce talks, a day after ruling out any deal without the release of Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier captured in 2006. -- AFP