Residents of Rafah and Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip claimed Sunday evening to have received telephone calls from Israeli security forces warning them to evacuate areas from which gunmen are operating.
According to the civilians, the messages said "all those residing near a terror hub, a tunnel or a weapons cache must leave the area immediately."
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| Report: Hamas agrees to 1-year lull / Roee Nahmias |
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Arab media report Palestinian organization expressed its consent to PA officials taking charge of Rafah crossing in coordination with Hamas, in exchange for halting rocket fire for year starting Thursday. According to report, Israel agreed not to intervene in crossing's operation |
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Some Palestinians had reportedly evacuated their homes for fear of Israeli retaliation following Sunday morning's rocket and mortar barrages on
the Negev region. A total of four Qassams and 13 shells were fired at Israel since
the morning hours.
Ynet has learned that Hamas offices
in the Strip had also been cleared in light of the attacks and the consequent threats issued by Israeli ministers.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert clarified
at the start of the weekly cabinet that Israel would respond forcibly to Sunday morning's rocket fire.
"The cabinet's position from the first moment was that if the south's residents are fired on, our response will naturally be disproportionate," he said.
Fatah's military wing, the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades,
claimed responsibility for the rocket fire. Hamas government spokesman Taher al-Nunu denied any rocket fire on Israel and said Jerusalem was looking to escalate the situation, but Ynet has learned that the Islamist group's security forces were in fact searching for the rocket-launching cell behind the barrages.
According to Hamas, Fatah is launching the attacks with the aim of weakening Hamas and dragging Israel into a fresh conflict in Gaza.
News agencies contributed to the report
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