Palestinians blame Israel for truce breakdown

AFP, Gaza City
Palestinian militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad yesterday blamed Israel for a breakdown in their truce but did not claim responsibility for a suicide bombing at an Israeli shopping center.

Hamas spokesman Ismail Haniya told AFP his group was still committed to the truce proclaimed on June 29 but added: "The Israeli enemy is responsible for this situation because of their rejection of the ceasefire and their tough position."

Islamic Jihad spokesman Mohammad al-Hindi said: "Israel is responsible for the violence.... They don't respect the ceasefire and they continue their attacks against the Palestinian people since the first day of the ceasefire."

There was no immediate comment from the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, which includes some local branches that have rejected the truce and been responsible for previous gunfire attacks.

The Hamas and Islamic Jihad spokesmen made their remarks after a suicide bomber killed at least one Israeli and wounded 10 others at a shopping center near Tel Aviv but before a similar attack at a West Bank settlement that left one Israeli dead and two wounded.

The attacks came four days after an Israeli raid Friday on the West Bank town of Nablus left four Palestinians, including two Hamas members, dead. An Israeli soldier was also killed.

Hamas political leaders said after the Nablus operation they would still stick to the truce but their armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, vowed reprisals.

But Haniya said of the bombing at the Neve Afek shopping center in the town of Rosh Ha-Ayin northeast of Tel Aviv: "It's too early to say who is responsible for this operation.