GAZA, June 9 (Xinhuanet) -- A senior official from Palestinian mainstream Fatah movement said Thursday that firing homemade rockets at Israeli settlements as a response to Israeli practices serves the Israeli interests only.

    Chief of Fatah's Mobilization and Organization Bureau Abdullah al-Ifranji told reporters after a meeting with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in the Gaza city that firing rockets at Israel is useless.

    "This response will only serve the Israeli side and will not make Israel retreat or change its policy," al-Ifranji said.

    He asserted all Palestinian factions must be committed to the truce agreed in Cairo in March and called on all the factions to discuss a possible joint response, which "will be stronger than firing rockets."

    After a new wave of violence erupting lately between Palestinian militants and Israelis challenged the fragile truce, Abbas arrived at Gaza Wednesday night for talks with factions' leaders including those of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas). Enditem