Soldiers in the area were caught unawares as the activists scattered dummies to symbolize body parts.

The activists said their intention was to "stop the war machine, as citizens in whose name the army operates."

At the same time, a procession of some 40 Peace Now activists' cars passed through Sderot on their way to the Erez crossing carrying a banner reading "only political negotiations will stop Qassams."

The activists, whose procession had left from the Glilot intersection north of Tel Aviv, held their own protest at the crossing.

MK Haim Oron (Meretz) said at the protest that the only solution to the conflict is a political one and that Israel must not deploy an excessive number of troops in the Gaza Strip.

Sufyan Abu Zaida, a Fatah leader in the Strip, addressed the protesters by phone, having been denied entry to Israel.

Abu Zaida said that the only way to stop Qassam fire is the recognition of the legitimacy of both peoples.