TEL AVIV — Israel has again established a buffer zone along the border with the Gaza Strip during a ceasefire agreement with Hamas.

Israel's military has set up a buffer zone that encompasses some 300 meters west of the security fence along the Gaza border. The military said soldiers would fire at Palestinians who enter the zone.

"We will view anybody in that zone as a belligerent," a military source said.

[On Wednesday, a Palestinian drove a tractor into buses and vehicles in downtown Jerusalem in what officials termed a terrorist strike, Middle East Newsline reported. At least two Israelis were killed and 42 others were injured. The Palestinian, a 30-year-old Jerusalem resident, was killed by Israeli security forces.]

The source said the Gaza buffer zone was established to prevent an increase in sniper attacks and bombings along the security fence since the June 19 ceasefire. The Hamas regime as well as Islamic Jihad were said to have formed squads to infiltrate and attack the border with Israel.

Israel's Defense Ministry informed Egypt of the buffer zone. In turn, Egypt relayed the development to Hamas.

The Israeli military has already begun firing toward Palestinians who approach the border fence without authorization. The United Nations was said to have reported eight such shootings.

Hamas has objected to the buffer zone, less than half the size of that established by Israel in 2005. The Islamic regime said the ceasefire must enable Palestinian farms to return to their land along the Israeli border.

Despite the ceasefire, Palestinian gunners have been firing mortars and missiles into Israel on a nearly daily basis. Hamas has pledged to crack down on militias that conduct such attacks.

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