JERUSALEM, Oct. 2 (Xinhuanet) -- The Israeli army has suspended its military operation in the Gaza Strip after Palestinian militants stopped rocket attacks, an army spokeswoman said on Sunday.

    "We'll continue the operation when we see the need to rein in possible violence," said spokeswoman Yael Hartmann.

    Israel launched a large-scale military operation codenamed "the First Rain" in Gaza last week, in response to rocket attacks by Palestinian militants on Israeli border towns.

    The violence erupted after a blast at a rally organized by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Sept. 23 in Gaza, which killed 19 Palestinians.

    Hamas had blamed Israel for the blast and fired more than 80 homemade rockets at the southern Israeli town of Sderout.

    The Israeli side responded with artillery shells and air strikes, killing four militants in Gaza, weeks after its withdrawal from the territory on Sept. 12. Enditem