Two years after Cast Lead HAMAS and Islamic Jihad threaten new war
On Sunday, a spokesman for Islamic Jihad, one of the militant groups operating in Gaza, said it was prepared for a new war with Israel.
“The occupation will pay the price if they even think of carrying out an escalation in the Gaza Strip,” Abu Ahmed told mourners at the funerals of two Islamic Jihad members killed Sunday in a exchange of fire with Israeli troops.
A day earlier, members of Hamas’s military wing held a news conference and also announced their readiness for war.
“There is a truce in effect in the field… But if there is any Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip we will respond strongly,” said a masked spokesman who identified himself as Abu Obeideh.
Israel has warned rocket fire will not be tolerated, after at least 23 mortar rounds and six rockets were fired from Gaza since December 19, including one that struck a kibbutz, landing near a kindergarten and wounding a teenage girl.