Israel suspends Gaza offensive

ISRAEL has suspended its offensive in the Gaza Strip following a lull in rocket attacks by Palestinian militants but is ready to continue the operation if the rocket fire resumes, officials said yesterday.

The officials said the operation, which included a series of air strikes last week, achieved its goal of weakening militants’ ability to attack Israel from Gaza. Militants have not fired rockets into Israel since Tuesday, the army said.

With the break in fighting, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas spoke by telephone yesterday and agreed to meet soon, Israeli and Palestinian officials said.