Hamas: Truce with Israel at end

Source: CCTV.com | 04-25-2007 10:01

Hamas militants have fired a barrage of rockets and mortar shells toward Israel as Israel celebrated its 59th independence day. Hamas militants said they considered a five-month truce has come to an end.

Hamas militants fire rockets into Israel in response to the killing of nine Palestinians at the weekend by Israeli forces.

Fawzi Barhoum, Hamas spokesman, said, "What happened today and yesterday is a normal response against this type of violence and crime against our Palestinians. The Israeli occupation committed all type of killing and bombarding and arresting for our Palestinians in Gaza and West Bank."

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh appeared to defend the attack, saying Israel was to blame for any escalation of tensions.

Israeli army said at least five rockets were fired at Israel. There were no reports of casualties.

Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres said Hamas had not kept the ceasefire and had forced Israel to react with its military.

Shimon Peres said, "Well our worry was that actually they didn't keep the ceasefire they promised. There were attempts to penetrate the country with car bombs and we didn't have a choice but to prevent it."

The barrage came on Israel's 59th independence day. At a ceremony in Jerusalem, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Israel would face much more danger in the future.

Editor:Du Xiaodan