GAZA, Feb. 1 (Xinhuanet) -- Saraya al-Quds, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad (Holy War) Movement claimed responsibility on Tuesday for a predawn shelling at the Jewish settlement of Nitzarim in the south of Gaza City.

    The group said in a leaflet sent to reporters that its militants fired two homemade rockets at the settlement of Nitzarim early Tuesday.

    "The Zionist enemy responded by opening fire around the settlement," said the leaflet, adding that the militants managed to leave the area without being hurt.

    It asserted that the rocket attacks were meant to stress that "resistance is the only choice when the Zionist aggressions against the Palestinian people continue."

    The shelling came after Israeli troops shot dead on Monday a 10-year-old Palestinian schoolgirl in the southern Gaza town of Rafah,breaking the days-long calmness that has taken hold in the GazaStrip after Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas achieved a "coolingdown" period with Palestinian militants.

    A meeting between senior Israeli and Palestinian security officials on Monday night in Herzlia near Tel Aviv failed to secure the expected handover of five West Bank cities to the Palestinian National Authority following the resumption of violence in the GazaStrip.

    Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said at the meeting that Israel would not hand over the security responsibility of thecities to the Palestinian side as long as militants keep firinghome made rockets at Israeli targets. Enditem