Mofaz not satisfied with Hamas rocket declaration

Israeli defence Minister Shaul Mofaz today said that he was “not satisfied” with a Palestinian militant leader’s call for a halt to rocket attacks on Israel.

Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip bombarded southern Israel with rockets over the weekend, provoking an Israeli military offensive that has centred around air strikes against Hamas operatives and weapons facilities.

After Israel launched its military strike, Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar called for a halt to rocket attacks in a bid to stop the operation.

“Hamas committed an unforgivable act, and we have to dictate new rules for the game,” Mofaz told Army Radio. “We will not let this pass quietly. Hamas needs to know that Israel will act to protect its citizens.”

“Mahmoud Zahar’s words do not satisfy me,” Mofaz said, adding that attacks had not stopped, and that he wanted other Hamas leaders to issue the same declaration.

Israeli security officials had said earlier that they would wait to see whether the Palestinian attacks would end before calling off the offensive.