Hamas military wing calls off “Israel” truce

Source: AP, 9-6-2006
BEIT LAHIYA, Gaza Strip - Hamas militants called off a truce with "Israel" on Friday after a barrage of "Israeli" artillery shells tore into Palestinians at a beachside picnic in the Gaza Strip, killing ten civilians.
The declaration raised the prospect of a new wave of bloodshed. Hamas militants suspended a campaign of deadly suicide (self-sacrifice) attacks on "Israelis" with a February 2005 cease-fire, and have largely stuck to the truce. The Islamic group now leads the Palestinian government.
"The earthquake in the Zionist towns will start again and the aggressors will have no choice but to prepare their coffins or their luggage," the Hamas militants said in a leaflet. "The resistance groups ... will choose the proper place and time for the tough, strong and unique response."
The "Israeli" artillery attack was part of a wider aerial and artillery bombardment that killed a total of 10 people Friday and injured over 40 beach goers escaping the heat on the Islamic week day off.
The violence fueled tensions already high over an "Israeli" airstrike that killed a militant commander in the Hamas-led government Thursday.
Tens of thousands of people packed a Gaza soccer stadium Friday for Jamal Abu Samhadana`s funeral. They fired thousands of bullets in the air, chanting, "God is great" and "Revenge, revenge."
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the attack on the beach as a "genocidal crime." He called for international intervention and declared a three-day period of mourning. Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, said the shelling was a "war crime" and urged an end to recent fighting between Hamas and Abbas` moderate Fatah movement.
The killings raised questions about whether Abbas would go ahead with referendum on establishing a Palestinian state alongside "Israel" despite pleas from Hamas to hold off.
Abbas is eager to restart stalled peace talks with "Israel", and on Saturday was expected to formally announce a July 31 date for the referendum. An official close to Abbas said late Friday the president would make his announcement as planned on Saturday.