GAZA, April 9 (Xinhua) -- A spokesman for Saraya al-Quds, an armed wing of the Islamic Jihad (Holy War) announced on Sunday a one-week unilateral truce with Israel.

    The spokesman, who spoke to Xinhua on condition of anonymity, said that his group would refrain from launching homemade rockets from the Gaza Strip at Israel to avoid civilian casualties in ongoing Israeli military actions.

    "Saraya al-Quds decided to refrain from launching more homemade rockets at Israeli towns and cities in order to prevent Palestinian innocent civilians from being killed in more air and ground strikes carried out by Israeli forces," said the spokesman.

    He affirmed that the decision was made after the group studied current situation in depth, adding that people's interests are apriority of the group.

    Meanwhile, the spokesman also urged Israeli side to stop attacks in the Palestinian territories, vowing that his group would renew launching homemade rockets if it continues attacks.

    In the last few days, the Islamic Jihad and several militant groups escalated their attacks by launching homemade rockets at Israel, which led to Israeli retaliation strikes and the death of 15 Palestinians.

    The Islamic Jihad, a smaller but violent group which refused to join a Hamas-led government, has been behind most of the suicide bombing attacks against Israel during a one-year truce period in 2005. Enditem