Militants Vow ‘struggle’ As Israel Seals Borders

Last updated on: April 5, 2012 at 7:03 pm by

Militants Vow ‘struggle’ As Israel Seals Borders 2012-04-05T19:03:04-07:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

JERUSALEM (AP) — A Palestinian militant leader said that his group’s “struggle” against Israel will continue despite a cease-fire that stopped an exchange of fire between the Gaza Strip and Israel last month.

The statement by Sheik Nafez Azzam of Islamic Jihad at a Gaza rally late Thursday came as Israel vowed to strike against the yet-unidentified militants who launched a rocket into the southern Israeli town of Eilat earlier Thursday.

Gaza regularly sees days- or weeks-long outbreaks of violence, in which rockets are fired into Israel and airstrikes launched at militant targets in the territory, followed by months-long cease-fires.

The last major outbreak of Gaza violence began in early March when Israel killed a militant leader it said was planning an attack, and the Eilat attack together with Azzam’s comments have raised fears in Israel as the Jewish state closes its borders with the Palestinian territories and takes other security measures in preparation

“We are continuing the struggle and the jihad,” Azzam said at a Gaza Strip rally in comments broadcast on Israeli television. “We will not be broken. We will not surrender. We will not accept the conditions Israel tries to impose.”

Islamic Jihad is a militant group that has operated in Gaza since 1979 and has carried out bombings and rocket attacks on Israel.

Azzam spoke hours after Israeli chief of staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz promised harsh retribution to militants who fired a rocket early Thursday into Eilat. Israel says that it was launched from the Sinai desert of neighboring Egypt. Palestinian groups have ties with Sinai militants, disgruntled tribes and smugglers there. Egypt denied the rocket was fired from its territory.

“The long arm of the State of Israel ultimately reaches everyone trying to harm citizens of Israel and the Jewish people,” Gantz said.

The Israeli army closed the West Bank border just before midnight Thursday for the first two days of the Passover holiday, which begins Friday at sundown.

Under the ban, no Palestinians are allowed to cross into Israel except those needing medical care, the military said. The ban will be lifted on Saturday at midnight.

Israel routinely closes the West Bank during Jewish holidays when crowds in synagogues and other public places are most vulnerable to potential attacks by Palestinian militants.

A decade ago, 29 people were killed on Passover eve as they sat down to a traditional festive meal at a hotel in the Israeli resort of Netanya.

Previous Post

April 5, 2012

Students Recounts Encounter With Gunman At College

Next Post

April 5, 2012 Chavez Back Home, Talks Emotionally On His Cancer

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category

Select a Month April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What did Israel ask Samuel for despite his warnings?

Select your answer to see how you score.

A prophet A new Tabernacle A king A palace