Hamas issues threat to Israel

Updated 16.02 Thu May 17 2007

Keywords: Ehud Olmert, Israeli Prime Minister, Miri Eisin, Abu Ubaida, Gaza, Palestinians, Israel, Hamas

The armed wing of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas has threatened to renew its suicide bombing campaign against Israel.

They said this was in response to an Israeli air strike that destroyed one of their security compounds in Gaza City.

"This is an open war launched against Hamas. All options are open, including martyrdom operations" - Abu Ubaida, spokesman of Hamas's armed wing

At least two people died and more than 20 were wounded in what was a powerful response by Israel to rocket attacks by Palestinian militants.

Abu Ubaida, spokesman of Hamas's armed wing, said: "This is an open war launched against Hamas. All options are open, including martyrdom operations."

Miri Eisin, a spokeswoman for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, said before the air strike: "We have had enough. Israel will take all defensive measures to protect our citizens from these Hamas rockets."

At least two Israelis were lightly wounded by rocket salvoes in the southern town of Sderot, near the Gaza border.

Smoke rose from what remained of the building in the heart of the city, where rival factions have been battling each other for the past six days in violence that has brought Palestinians to the verge of all-out civil war.

"I can confirm that we have carried out an air strike," an army spokesman said in Tel Aviv.

Gaza residents and Hamas radio identified the target as a building used by the Islamist group's Executive Force, which is challenging Fatah for security control of the territory.

Earlier, at least one Palestinian was killed in a clash between Hamas and Fatah gunmen in the Gaza Strip, despite a ceasefire deal agreed late on Wednesday.

An Israeli army spokeswoman said a small number of tanks and armoured vehicles crossed over the Gaza fence "but they have not gone in for an offensive operation".

The current round of fighting erupted on Friday between Hamas and President Mahmoud Abbas's secular Fatah faction.

More than 40 Palestinians have been killed in the violence, the most serious since the two groups formed a unity government two months ago.