Jerusalem, Dec 26 (Xinhua) Israel has decided to open the border crossings with the Gaza Strip Friday morning for delivery of humanitarian aid, the Jerusalem Post reported Thursday.The decision to reopen the border, which had largely been kept shut amid continuing rocket attacks from the Hamas-ruled enclave, came following internal consultations in the security establishment and requests from the international community, said the report.

Throughout Thursday, at least six rockets were fired at southern Israel, a day after Gazan militants rained more than 60 rockets and mortar shells upon the Jewish state that followed by a retaliatory Israeli airstrike, killing one Hamas gunman in southern Gaza.

The latest flare-up prompted the security cabinet to convene an emergency meeting Wednesday, following which Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak has said the army was instructed to deliver a harsh response to the cross-border attacks.

Earlier Thursday, the defence minister warned that Gazan militants would pay a “heavy price” if they continue to barrage Israel.