Olmert in talks over Gaza truce

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was to meet military commanders today to hear options on how to respond to the first rocket barrage by Hamas militants since the two sides reached a truce in Gaza five months ago.

Mr Olmert spoke to his defence minister, Amir Peretz, after yesterday’s barrage and planned to hold further consultations this morning, Israeli officials said. The issue was whether to resume pre-emptive attacks against Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip and scuttle the cease-fire.

Deputy Defence Minister Ephraim Sneh said Israel was not seeking to raise the level of conflict between the two sides and security officials said a full-scale ground offensive into Gaza was not a preferred option.

“We have no interest in escalation,” Mr Sneh told Israel Radio. “We do have an interest in doing what is necessary to reduce as much as possible the level of terrorism.”

The head of an Egyptian security delegation in Gaza, Maj. Gen. Burhan Hamad, called a meeting of all Palestinian factions for this morning, urging them to maintain the calm “to avert any possible Israeli invasion of Gaza.” He condemned the rocket barrages and Israeli raids earlier in the week that killed nine Palestinians, most of them militants.

Hamas, which is a partner in the Palestinian government, said its members fired 41 rockets and 54 mortar shells yesterday in response to the Israeli raids.

The Israeli military said it could confirm the launching of only six rockets and eight shells. Two of the rockets fell in Israel, the army said, but caused no casualties or damage.

Israeli media, citing military officials, said the rocket bombardment apparently had been intended to create a diversion in order to capture an Israeli soldier near the Gaza border. The military refused to comment on the reports.

Hamas-linked militants have been holding a 20-year-old Israeli corporal, Gilad Shalit, since June.

Mr Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced the Gaza truce in late November, declaring an end to Palestinian rocket fire and Israeli attacks, including airstrikes at Gaza militants and invasions of towns in northern Gaza.