Hamas rejects talk of truce with Israel for now
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Buy SPH photosGAZA CITY (AFP) - Gaza's Hamas rulers on Thursday said they would not consider a truce with Israel for now, as Israeli planes pounded Gaza and militants fired hundreds of rockets into the Jewish state.
"We will not be exposed to further tricks by the occupation. We consider talk of a truce at this time an attempt to provide more cover for the continuation of the escalation on Gaza," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said at a press conference.
"Talk of a truce is another attempt by the occupation at deception," he said, adding that "the enemy started an open war on our people and our resistance in Gaza."
His remarks appeared to rule out any hopes of a quick end to a surge of violence that began with an Israeli targeted killing of top Hamas field commander Ahmed Jaabari on Wednesday.
