Special report: Palestine-Israel Relations

    GAZA, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- A Palestinian militant was killed and two others were wounded on Saturday morning in an Israeli strike on the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahia, medics and witnesses said.

    Witnesses said that an Israeli rocket fired at a group of militants, who belong to Fatah movement's armed wing al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, adding that a huge explosion was heard in the area where one was killed and two were wounded.

    Mo'aweya Hassanein, chief of emergency and ambulance services in the Palestinian Ministry of Health, confirmed that Ali Hejazi, 25, was killed and two others were wounded in the Israeli air strike, one seriously.

    Palestinian security sources in Gaza said that the Israeli army forces fired a surface-to-surface missile at northern Gaza Strip, as the militants were trying to launch homemade rockets at southern Israel.

    On Friday, an Egyptian-brokered six-month lull between Israel and Gaza armed wings expired. Gaza militant groups, including Hamas movement which rules Gaza, had refused to renew the truce with Israel.

    All of them said that they decided not to renew the lull with Israel because Israel was not showing any commitment to implementing it.

    According to the lull deal, Israel reopens Gaza crossings for stopping rockets attacks from Gaza.

    The witnesses said that Israeli drones have been hovering over the northern and southern areas of the Gaza Strip to watch and target militants trying to launch rockets at southern Israel.

    Meanwhile, Israel Radio reported that Gaza militants fired four home made rockets from Gaza at southern Israel, adding that no injuries or damages were reported.

Violence to escalate after Hamas ends ceasefire with Israel

       JERUSALEM, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Analysts believe violence will escalate between Israel and Hamas that currently rules Gaza after the Palestinian Islamic movement on Thursday officially ended a six-month-old Egyptian-brokered ceasefire with Israel.

       Hamas spokesman in Gaza Fawzi Barhom said in a statement that "there is no room to extend the Tahde'a (truce) with Israel, which ends on Friday," blaming Israel for "bearing the full responsibility for its collapse."  Full story

Hamas armed wing: Lull with Israel is over

A journalist holds the remains of a rocket at the police station in Sderot, southern Israel, Dec. 18, 2008. The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) announced Thursday evening that the cease-fire with Israel in Gaza was over, 24 hours before the six-month truce was due to expire. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) Photo Gallery>>>

    GAZA, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Islamic Hamas movement armed wing al-Qassam Brigades announced on Friday morning that the lull with Israel is over, saying Israel is responsible for the end.

    The group said in a leaflet sent to reporters that at 6:00 a.m.(4:00 GMT) "The Tahde'aa with Israel is official over and Israel is held fully responsible for ending it," adding "if Israel escalates, we are ready to defend our people."  Full story