Gaza peace deal "shattered"
Sunday, 16 Nov 2008 18:46
Relatives mourn the victims of the latest Israeli air strike
Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert has said the truce between Israel and Palestinian militant organisations has been "shattered".
The outgoing prime minister's comments came after four Palestinian fighters were killed in an Israeli air strike on Sunday.
In the last week, over ten people have been killed following Israeli air strikes in response to rocket attacks from the Gaza strip.
Mr Olmert said his government had no choice but to retaliate with air strikes against those launching missiles into Israeli controlled territory.
In comments cited by the AFP news agency, Mr Olmert said: "The responsibility for the shattering of the calm and the creation of a situation of prolonged and repeated violence in the south of the country is entirely on Hamas and the other terror groups in Gaza.
"There is no one who can criticise the Israeli government ... we cannot tolerate this price tag that the terror organisations are trying to set against our right to prevent the continuing terror attacks and threats."
A spokesman for the Jewish state's military said an attack had been launched against a group who were firing missiles into Israeli territory from northern parts of the Gaza strip.
He added that two missiles had crossed into Israel but did not result in any casualties or damage.
Doctors from a local hospital confirmed the deaths of four members of the militant group, the popular resistance committees.
Five months ago, a truce was agreed between Israel and Hamas under which Israel would halt incursions into Palestinian territory in exchange for an end to rockets being fired into Israel.