LOC22:55
19:55 GMT
GAZA, Dec 21 (KUNA) -- The Israeli occupying army accused on Tuesday Hamas
of escalating attacks against Israel, but said the movement is not interested
in full-scale war.
The army said its strikes at Gaza came after some 30 mortar shells and 10
Qassam rockets were fired over the last two weeks at south Israel, Israel's
Haaretz daily reported.
It believed that the increase in such attacks is related to Hamas' despair
over stalled prisoner swap negotiations and lack of progress in reconciliation
with Fatah.
Israeli Army Chief Gabi Ashkenazi had ordered the air force to strike eight
Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip overnight Tuesday, in light of the militant
group's increased offensives against Israeli troops and civilians along the
border over the last two weeks.
The multiple-target operation was the first of its kind in month, and came
on the surface in response to an alleged firing of rockets at the western
Negev over the last few days.
The Israeli military claims that Hamas is not interested in a full-scale
escalation, but that the movement's echelon has grown into unprecedented
despair regarding the lack of progress in prisoner swap negotiations with
Israel and with the stalled reconciliation talks with the rival Fatah faction.
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