ChristiansUnite Forums

Hamas rocket fire endangers truce

By IBRAHIM BARZAK, Associated Press Writer Tue Apr 24, 4:58 PM ET

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Hamas militants in Gaza joined in the rocketing of Israeli towns and villages for the first time in five months Tuesday, retaliating for deadly Israeli raids in the Palestinian territories.
ADVERTISEMENT

The barrage, which came on
Israel's 59th independence day, did not cause any damage or injury, but it marked the first time Hamas acknowledged firing shells toward Israel since agreeing to a cease-fire in November.

The cease-fire has greatly reduced the level of violence in Gaza, sparing the area from Israeli incursions and airstrikes. It has also helped prevent a resumption of suicide attacks in Israel.

But the informal truce has been widely criticized in Israel because Palestinian security forces have not stopped rocket squads from firing at Israeli towns.

While Hamas rocket squads have stayed on the sidelines, other groups such as Islamic Jihad have kept up an almost daily barrage on Israelis living just outside Gaza.

Hamas is tightly organized, and Israel says attacks from Gaza have the tacit approval of the militant group's political leaders.

Hamas gave conflicting predictions about the future of the truce announced in November by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Some officials said it was over, while others said everything depends on Israeli actions.

Israel has stopped most of its military activity but kept Gaza in a stranglehold by closing vital crossings, citing security threats.

Israeli raids in the northern
West Bank over the weekend and an Israeli missile strike in Gaza killed nine Palestinians, including two civilians, and Hamas called for attacks against Israel in retaliation. Tuesday's rocket barrage was the first sign the new Hamas line might spell the end of the truce.

"The cease-fire has been over for a long time, and Israel is responsible for that," Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida, told the Voice of Palestine radio station.

"We are ready to kidnap more and more, and kill more and more of your soldiers," Abu Obeida added, referring to a soldier captured in a cross-border raid by Hamas-linked militants in June.

Israel Radio, citing military officials, said Tuesday's rocket attack apparently was intended to create a diversion in order to capture an Israeli soldier near the Gaza border. The military refused to comment on the report.

Hamas militants claimed they launched 41 rockets and 54 mortar shells, but the Israeli military said it could confirm only six rockets and eight mortars. Two of the rockets fell in Israel, the army said, causing no casualties or damage.

Israeli helicopters fired missiles at mortar launch sites in southern Gaza, the military said. Palestinian security reported no Israeli strikes.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas appeared to defend the attack.

"We made great efforts at keeping the truce and there was a positive Palestinian position, but unfortunately this position was met by expanding (Israeli) aggression and escalating it against the Palestinian people," he said.

Haniyeh's spokesman, Ghazi Hamad, also blamed Israel, but said the Palestinian government "affirms the importance of maintaining the truce and protecting it."

Olmert and Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz spoke by phone to discuss a possible response. More security consultations were planned for Wednesday, government officials said.

The Israeli military has warned of a Hamas arms buildup in Gaza, and has readied contingency plans for a large-scale invasion of the territory. However, Olmert said earlier this month that the time is not ripe for a major ground campaign.

At an independence day event, Olmert looked to the future. "No doubt Israel will have to deal with great dangers in the coming years. But if we act wisely, we can also create opportunities," he said. "We will be judged by both."

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni praised the Arab League for its latest peace initiative, renewing an offer of recognition of Israel in exchange for a pullout from all lands captured in the 1967 war and a just solution for Palestinian refugees and their millions of descendants.

"Maybe for the first time the Arab world understands the vital role it fills by lending support and legitimacy to the Israeli-Palestinian process by stretching their hand out to Israel," she said. Israel does not accept parts of the plan but has called for negotiations.

Hamas rocket fire endangers truce (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070424/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_palestinians)

Just imagine if either Mexico or Canada were lobbing rockets on US soil. It would only happen once.

Hamas: Cease-fire officially over
Launches massive rocket attack, threatens suicide bombings
Posted: April 24, 2007
12:08 p.m. Eastern

By Aaron Klein
© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com

JERUSALEM – A truce Hamas made with Israel in Gaza last November is "officially over," Hamas leaders told WND today, threatening to send suicide bombers into Tel Aviv if the Jewish state retaliates for a major attack carried out this morning.

"We don't recognize Israel's right to exist. We will never allow Jews to remain in our lands. Today's attack was only a sample of what we can do. We have thousands of rockets ready to be shot. The cease-fire is officially over," said Abu Abdullah, considered one of the most important operational members of Izzedine al-Qassam Martyrs Brigades, Hamas' so-called military wing.

In the first rocket attack it claimed responsibility for in five months, Hamas earlier today fired 39 Qassam rockets and 79 mortars from the Gaza Strip aimed at nearby Jewish communities. The projectiles were meant to be a diversion as the group attempted to storm an Israeli military base on the Gaza border to kidnap Israeli soldiers.

The attacks occurred as Israelis nationwide celebrated the country's Independence Day.

The Israel Defense Forces thwarted the kidnap attempt and dispatched helicopters to intercept the gunmen behind it. Missiles were fired at Qassam launch pads in Gaza. The IDF at first said only 10 rockets were fired by Hamas in today's attack but later admitted "dozens" of Qassams were launched.

IDF sources said the military's response to today's Hamas attacks will be limited.

Hamas' Abu Abdullah threatened if Israel raided Gaza "the Zionists will be entering hell. We are preparing a major cemetery for them. We will step up attacks, including dispatching suicide bombers to Tel Aviv."

Following today's attack, the Hamas-led Palestinian government issued a statement calling for calm. Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh claimed his government would dedicate efforts to convince Palestinian factions to maintain the truce with Israel.

But Abu Abdullah told WND today's attacks were coordinated with the Hamas political leadership.

He said Hamas used the cease-fire to stockpile weaponry and train for attacks against the Jewish state.

In November, Israel agreed to a truce with Gaza militants in which the Jewish state vowed to suspend anti-terror operations in the Gaza Strip in exchange for quiet. Since then, more than 200 rockets have been fired from Gaza, but the IDF largely has restrained itself from operating in the territory.

Hamas has not taken responsibility for rocket attacks the past five months, but Israel says the group has been passing rockets on to other Palestinian organizations to carry out attacks. Hamas last month took credit for a shooting attack at the Gaza border.

Days after the Nov. 23 truce was made, Hamas leaders in Gaza granted a series of exclusive interviews to WND in which they said the new agreement would be used to smuggle weapons into the Gaza Strip; reinforce and train "fighter units"; and produce rockets for a future confrontation with the Jewish state.