Israel will hold itself to a limited military response to recent Hamas rocket fire from the Gaza Strip. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s office said Wednesday that after consulting with security chiefs, he decided to order stepped-up airstrikes against Palestinian rocket crews, but not to target terrorist leaders or order a large-scale ground offensive in Gaza.
For the first time in months, Hamas claimed responsibility for a rocket salvo Tuesday that caused no casualties but stoked speculation that a full-scale military confrontation is imminent. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who shares power with Hamas, described the barrage as a one-time event.
Hamas said it would no longer abide by a “truce” that terrorist groups declared in the Gaza Strip. In any case, the truce has been broken by almost daily rocket barrages into Israel.
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