Israeli-Palestinian truce off

[sonz]

Three Palestinian political factions, Islamic Jihad, HAMAS , and Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades claimed responsibility for a series of attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip, stressing that the truce agreement they reached with Israel last year expired at midnight, reported AFP.


In a joint statement, Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and the armed wing of Islamic Jihad said they had fired two rockets at the southern Israeli town of Sderot at around 4:15 am.
Also The Popular Resistance Committees issued a statement, a copy of which was sent to AFP offices in Gaza, confirming it had fired rockets at army posts and at a kibbutz in Israel.
Islamic Jihad released a statement on Saturday reading:
“We reaffirm that the official end of the truce agreed to in Cairo last March comes at midnight on Saturday”.
However, the statement was not clear whether the group would participate in talks on extending the cease-fire, declared Feb. 8 at a peace summit conference in Egypt.
Other armed groups affiliated with Fatah Party also noted that the cease-fire expired Saturday night.
And Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades said Israeli strikes in Gaza “blew up any truce”.
The cease-fire succeeded in reducing the level of violence that began in September 2000. However, Israel is accused of committing serious violations to the truce.

• Italian hostage freed

The Italian hostage who was kidnapped in Gaza Strip during a visit with two European Union parliamentarians has been freed, an Italian member of the European parliament, Luisa Morgantini, said.
"He has been freed," Morgantini told Reuters by telephone, speaking from the Gaza Strip.
[mad][/mad]Earlier reports said that a group of armed Palestinians kidnapped on Sunday an Italian peace activist, two days after the release of the British family which was abducted last week.
The Italian was kidnapped in the southern town of Khan Younis during a visit by a group of foreigners.
No group or individuals have claimed responsibility for the abduction so far.

• First Israeli air strike in Gaza ‘no-go’ zone

The Israeli occupation army launched a deadly air strike on Gaza, killing two Palestinians, The Associated Press reported Sunday.
This is the occupation forces’ first attack since Israel declared the Gaza border area off limits.
Israeli sources claimed that the air forces hit armed Palestinians as they were preparing to launch a rocket at Israel late Saturday.
Israel declared the northern Gaza-Israel border a “no-go” zone, threatening to kill any Palestinian who tries entering the area, which includes the ruins of Israeli settlements destroyed during September GAZA WITHDRAWAL.
HAMAS spokesman Mushir al-Masri, speaking to reporters at the Gaza hospital, threatened retaliation, however, he did not rule out extending the truce, which ended last night.
But in a separate statement from HAMAS , the group’s members referred to the end of the cease-fire and plans for retaliation.
On the other hand, the Palestinian Interior Ministry issued a statement denouncing the Israeli deadly attack, adding that a shell hit a Palestinian post, which hampered the police efforts to stop armed Palestinians from firing a rocket at Israeli towns.
• Palestinians seize UN club in Gaza
[s][/s]
Meanwhile, a group of armed Palestinians briefly seized a UN club in Gaza City, throwing two explosive devices, The Associated Press reported.
Commenting on the incident early Sunday, officials said that five armed men tied up the guard at the building before throwing the explosives they were carrying, adding that the building was damaged, but no one was hurt.
Media reports tried to draw a link between the incident and the fact that the UN club is the only place in Gaza where alcohol is served, although the place was closed when the attack occurred Sunday after 2 a.m.

[Bittersteel]

this is not good at all.