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Israel keeps up Hamas attacks

Israel fired missiles at five Hamas targets minutes apart yesterday, killing four people and wounding six, just hours after Gaza militants floated the idea of halting rocket fire on Israeli border towns if Israel ends its 10-day-old air campaign.

After the attacks, Hamas said a truce was no longer viable.

In all, Israeli aircraft launched 11 missile strikes. Before dawn, they struck near the house of Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas in a Gaza refugee camp, while troops in the West Bank arrested a Hamas Cabinet minister.

Israel's offensive is aimed at halting Hamas rocket fire from Gaza at Israeli border towns.

Since last week, dozens of targeted missile strikes have killed nearly 50 Palestinians and damaged many Hamas installations. Israel said some 225 rockets have landed in Israeli towns since May 15, killing one woman and sending thousands of frightened Israeli residents fleeing. One rocket landed in Israel yesterday.

Failed plan

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has tried in recent days to revive a truce with Israel. Under his plan, Gaza militants would halt rocket fire for a month to allow for negotiations on a more comprehensive ceasefire that would include the West Bank.

After a meeting late on Friday, the militant groups initially asked for 48 hours to respond to the proposal. Abbas has been in talks with them since Tuesday.

However, Hamas hardened its stance after yesterday's rash of air attacks, including five in less than an hour, calling on militants to "direct painful strikes at the Zionist enemy."

In a statement, the group said it "will not offer a free truce to the Zionist occupation."

One of the attacks hit a key Hamas base in Gaza City, killing four Hamas members and wounding five. The compound was used as a training center and base for Hamas' militia, the Executive Force.

Destroyed

Two rooms in the camp were destroyed and rescue workers searched the rubble. A nearby charity was badly damaged from the strike. Hamas gunmen shot in the air to disperse a crowd of onlookers.

Islam Shahwan, a spokesman for the Executive Force, urged its members on local radios to take extra precautions because "the enemy doesn't miss a chance."

Earlier yesterday, two missiles hit close to Haniyeh's house in the Shati refugee camp on the outskirts of Gaza City. One landed around 100m away and the other 300m away, hitting trailers used by Haniyeh's bodyguards.

The missiles left two large craters, shattered surrounding windows and cut electricity in the crowded camp. There were no reported injuries, and people rushed out of their homes to inspect the damage.

The army confirmed the Shati strikes, but said Haniyeh was not a target. However, earlier this week, Israel's deputy defense minister had warned that none of the Hamas leaders are immune.
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