The Islamic Jihad movement on Saturday called on Palestinian factions to brace for what it called a looming Israeli invasion of the Gaza strip following an Israeli military action this morning which killed five militants.
Early in the morning, Israeli missiles killed five fighters from the Islamic Hamas movement which rules the Gaza Strip, in Khan Younis city in the north of the strip.
"The new Zionist aggression on Gaza coincides with the statements of the Zionist warlords who called for unleashing a large-scale incursion in the Gaza Strip," the movement said in a statement faxed to the press.
"This increase of attacks, which of course won't affect our will of resistance and endurance, is the first result of the ominous Annapolis conference," added the Islamic Jihad, calling on the militant factions to "unite and be ready to deal with any Israeli operation."
Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert launched at the U.S.-sponsored peace conference in Annapolis, Maryland on Nov. 27 their first formal peace talks in seven years with the goal of forging a deal by the end of 2008 to create a Palestinian state.
Hamas and other allied militant groups have strongly opposed the resumption of peace talks with Israel, saying Abbas does not have political legitimacy to speak on behalf of Palestinians.
They also oppose the U.S.-sponsored "road map" which calls for the renouncement of force in the first place. Israel and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) are meant to abide by the "road map" peace plan to facilitate negotiations for peace.
In the West Bank, Israeli army stormed Balata refugee camp in Nablus city amid intensive machine-gun fire.
Residents reported they heard sounds of explosions where the soldiers detonated a number of concrete roadblocks installed by Palestinian militants.
There were no reports of detentions or casualties in the swift, regular incursion.
Source: Xinhua
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