JERUSALEM, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Israel Defense Forces
(IDF) officials said on Thursday that Hamas was behind Wednesday's Qassam rocket
attack on a building near Defense Minister Amir Peretz's residence in the
southern Israeli city of Sderot, local media reported on Thursday.
Israel's Ha'aretz quoted IDF experts as saying that
the rockets were the kind developed by Hamas, which have larger warhead and are
more precise than those held by the Islamic Jihad (Holy War).
On early Wednesday, one of four Qassam rockets fired
from the northern Gaza Strip hit and badly damaged a residential building near
Peretz's house, while another struck roof of another house in the city.
At least one Israeli was lightly wounded in the
rocket attacks. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility shortly after the
attack, saying the rocket was of a newly-upgraded type, called Quds 4, with a
range of 12 kilometers.
According to a report published by Israel's Yedioth
Ahronoth newspaper, the Hamas-made rockets are painted in green and red, which
are distinguishable from rockets manufactured by Jihad andother militant groups.
The Yedioth Ahronoth report quoted an IDF source as
saying that "We will act against anyone who carries out terror attacks against
us, regardless of their political affiliation."
Meanwhile, Israeli security officials said that Hamas
has been involved in a number of attacks carried out by other groups against
Israel since a mutual ceasefire was reached over a year ago.
Hamas is still branded as a terror group by Israel,
despite its election win and formation of a Hamas-led government.
Israel says that it will not deal with a Hamas-led
Palestinian government unless Hamas recognizes Israel, renounces violence and
accepts previous peace deals. Enditem
