GAZA, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic Jihad (Holy War) movement vowed on Saturday to continue rocket attacks against Israel following reports that residents were leaving the southern Israeli town of Sderot.

    Islamic Jihad spokesman Daoud Shehab told reporters in Gaza quoting the Israeli daily of Maariv that some 54 families were leaving the Israeli city of Sderot as a result of rocket attacks.

    "The departure of some 54 families from Sderot is one fruit of the increasing resistance against the Israeli aggression in West Bank and Gaza Strip," said Shehab.

    The city lies a kilometer from the northeast of Gaza Strip and is the target of home-made rockets launched by the Palestinian militant groups.

    Israel and the Palestinians agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza Strip last November, but some factions, mainly the Islamic Jihad, continued rocket attacks in response to Israeli military actions in West Bank.

    "The Israeli aggression against our people needs continuing responses," Shehab said.

    The spokesman also criticized Palestinian calls to stop firing rockets for fears of Israeli retaliatory reactions.

    "Those who are not satisfied by the resistance acts are asked to show us how they will protect our people," he said.

    Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility on last Wednesday for firing five Qassams in Southern Israel, two in open fields near Sderot, one in Negev and two in south of Ashkelon.

    On last Thursday, The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) ended its five-day large-scale arrest operation in the West Bank city of Nablus after detaining some 11 Palestinian militants for interrogation and killing one elderly Palestinian man.