Special report: Palestine-Israel Relations

    GAZA, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Israeli security cabinet decisions regarding Gaza justify a schemed intention to launch a large military operation in the coastal Strip, Islamic Hamas movement said on Wednesday.

    Earlier, Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev announced that the Israeli cabinet decided to give a chance for Egyptian efforts to broker a ceasefire in the Hamas-controlled territory but asked the army to get prepared for a wide-scale offensive if the ceasefire efforts failed.

    "These decisions prove that the occupation wants to hinder the lull's efforts and that the occupation prepares a new criminal operation against Gaza Strip," Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoom said.

    Barhoom called on Egypt "to announce its stance regarding ongoing Israeli escalation on Gaza Strip borders and the cabinet's decisions that are intended to justify the offensive against Gaza." He also accused the United States of giving Israel a green light to attack Gaza.

    Three Palestinians, including a girl, farmer and a Hamas militant, were killed today in two Israeli raids in southeast and northern Gaza Strip.

    Hamas took over Gaza Strip a year ago after ousting security forces of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.