Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said on Wednesday that Israel will halt its targeted killing of Palestinian militants when Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas begins to curb terror, Israel Radio reported.

"If Abu Mazen (Abbas) takes the strategic decision to dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism and keeps militants from carrying out this activity in Gaza, all this business in Gaza will end," Shalom said.

"Since there is still Qassam rocket fire directed at Israel, this cannot be left without a response," the minister added.

Shalom's remarks came one day after two senior Palestinian militants, one from Hamas and the other from al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, were killed in northern Gaza in an Israeli targeted killing.

The incident drew strong condemnation from Hamas which vowed revenge, but stopped short of saying whether an eight-month ceasefire would come to an end.

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat also accused Israel of sabotaging Palestinian efforts to strengthen the truce by carrying out the air strike.

Source: Xinhua