Hamas denies ordering end to Qassam fire- Qassam injures 3 settlers

Source: Haaretz, 16-6-2006.
Islamic Jihad fired a salvo of Qassam rockets into the western Negev town of Sderot on Thursday morning, wounding three settlers. The strike came shortly after the ruling Hamas party denied a Haaretz report that it had ordered an end to Qasssam strikes, fearing its leadership would be targeted by "Israel".
Two of the rockets slammed into an open area near the city, a third hit near the city`s entrance and the fourth crashed into the Sderot industrial area damaging a factory. Another three rockets crashed into "Israel" on Thursday.
One person sustained minor facial wounds from shrapnel when the factory roof collapsed as a result of the rocket`s impact. Two other people were treated for shock.
But speaking to "Israel" Radio on Thursday afternoon, a spokesman for the Hamas government said it does want a cease-fire with "Israel", and is willing to speak to Palestinian militant factions in Gaza to persuade them to end the rocket fire.
"We are interested in a cease-fire everywhere. We want to end all operations if the "Israeli" side is interested in doing so," Ghazi Hamad told the radio.
Earlier in the day, Hamas released an official statement denying the Haaretz report indicating it was adhering to a cessation of Qassam fire. The organization added that it fired two Qassam rockets early Wednesday morning.
The Israeli Army claimed, however, it had information contradicting Hamas` claims of Qassam rocket fire on Wednesday.
The Hamas statement denied the group had on Monday night instructed its operatives to stop the rocket fire, during a meeting between Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh and senior officials in the Hamas military wing in Gaza.
The other Palestinian organizations have continued to launch rockets at "Israel", despite Hamas` vacillations. Islamic Jihad also fired a Qassam rocket at a strategic infrastructure facility near Ashkelon on Wednesday, causing no casualties.