Reporting from The Gaza Strip and Jerusalem -- Israel and Hamas ignored a United Nations cease-fire resolution Friday as the Israeli army attacked 70 targets in the Gaza Strip and Palestinian militants fired a barrage of rockets at southern Israel from the beleaguered seaside enclave.
Fighting in Gaza continued for a 14th day with little indication that the international community or an Egyptian-backed peace initiative would bring a quick end to hostilities. Hamas officials said they would not heed a resolution they were not consulted about. Israel, complaining that the U.N. action was unworkable, kept thousands of army reservists on alert and vowed to continue the offensive.
"The state of Israel has never agreed that any outside body would determine its right to defend the security of its citizens," Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said. He added that the army would "continue operations in order to defend Israeli citizens . . . This morning's rocket fire against residents of the south only proves U.N. Security Council Resolution 1860 is not practical and will not be honored in actual fact by the Palestinian murder organizations."
Hamas spokesman Sami abu Zuhri said the U.N. failed to consider the interests of the Palestinian people.
"This resolution doesn't mean that the war is over," he said on satellite television channel Al Jazeera. "We call on the Palestinian fighters to mobilize and be ready to face the offensive, and we urge the Arab masses to carry on with their angry protests
Poster Comment:
"The state of Israel has never agreed that any outside body would determine its right to defend the security of its citizens," Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said. He added that the army would "continue operations in order to defend Israeli citizens . . . Can't expect Israel to sit back and be attacked by rockets for year after year.
