GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Gaza Strip’s ruling Hamas movement has called on other armed Palestinian groups to halt a recent spike in violence with Israel.
Hamas spokesman Taher Nunu called on militant Gaza factions Tuesday to stop firing rockets at Israel. He said a cease fire that has been in place for two years serves Palestinian interests and prevents Israeli attacks.
Hamas has largely kept a cease-fire since an Israeli military offensive two years ago. But militants sporadically fire rockets at Israel, prompting reprisals, and border clashes still erupt occasionally.
Violence has intensified in recent days, including a barrage of three rockets that struck the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon on Monday.
Hamas has made similar appeals for calm in the past few weeks — only to see fighting resume.
