Special report: Israel launches Gaza assault

   JERUSALEM, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Israeli government said Friday that Israel would end its military actions in the Gaza Strip only after Palestinian militants stopped rocket attacks.

   Israeli government spokeswoman Miri Eisin said that the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), Islamic Jihad (Holy War) and other groups had chosen to fire rockets into Israel day in and day out.

   Eisin added that "Israel will continue to defend its citizens against the rockets and will only stop its actions once those who fire, store and make the rockets and those who smuggle in their components cease their actions."

   The spokeswoman made the announcement as a responding to an offer by Palestinian militant factions.

   On Thursday night, Hader Habib, an Islamic Jihad official in Gaza, said that Islamic Jihad, Hamas and Fatah reached an agreement on the deal during a meeting of representatives of the groups and Prime Minister Ismail Haneya in Gaza. The groups said Israel must take the first step to initiate a partial lull in violence.

   On Friday, Israel Defense Forces sources told local media that military activity in the Gaza Strip will continue, and even intensify, in an effort to move the Qassam cells to areas that are less convenient for firing rockets at Israel.