Israel postpones Gaza air offensive

Israeli Defence Minister Amir Peretz has postponed a large-scale air offensive planned by the army against Gaza militants in an effort to give the Palestinians more time to stop rocket attacks from the coastal territory, military officials said today.

In a meeting yesterday, Israeli army commanders had suggested that the air force increase its strikes against rocket launchers and leaders of militant groups, the officials said on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the matter. Peretz ruled out such an operation for a day or two to give the Palestinians time to stop the attacks, the officials said.