RAMALLAH/GAZA CITY, 21 June 2007 — President Mahmoud Abbas lashed out at Hamas yesterday, accusing them of trying to build an “empire of darkness” in Gaza and pledging he would not talk to “murderous terrorists.” Addressing the Palestinian people for the first time since the Hamas takeover of Gaza, Abbas in a televised speech to the Palestine National Council, sought approval for his recent steps, such as declaring a state of emergency, firing the Hamas-led government and setting up an emergency Cabinet of moderates.

He also hinted at the possibility of overriding the Palestinian Parliament, where Hamas has a majority, with the Palestine National Council, to give formal approval to his new Cabinet.

Despite the harsh setback of losing Gaza, Abbas reiterated that the time is ripe for restarting peace talks with Israel, under the umbrella of an international conference.

At one point, Abbas also described in great detail what he said was a Hamas attempt to assassinate him. He said he obtained footage of Hamas members dragging large amounts of explosives through a tunnel they had dug under Gaza’s main road — the one he takes to get to his office — and saying “this is for Abu Mazen,” Abbas’ nickname. He said he sent the tape to Hamas’ supreme leader, Khaled Meshaal, and to Arab leaders to illustrate Hamas intentions.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri hotly rejected Abbas’ statements. “What he said was disgusting and not appropriate for the Palestinian president,” the Hamas official said. “The president has harmed himself with his words.” The Palestine National Council last convened in 2004, after the death of Abbas’ predecessor, Yasser Arafat, and Abbas said he would seek to reactivate the PLO, of which Hamas is not a member, presumably to bypass Hamas and strip it of legitimacy.

Several hours before his speech, Israel fired missiles and sent tanks on a foray into Gaza, killing five Palestinians in the deadliest military action since Hamas took control of the coastal strip. Two more Palestinians were killed by Israeli Army fire in a shootout in the West Bank.

After nightfall, Hamas hit back with a barrage of rockets at the Israeli town of Sderot, just outside Gaza, the first Hamas rocket attack since it took over Gaza last week. One rocket hit a house. Israel TV said two Israelis were slightly wounded.

Mahmoud Zahar, the man widely believed to be leading Gaza’s new Hamas rulers, said his group would be open to a cease-fire with Israel if the army halted its activities there and in the West Bank. He said Hamas was capable of halting the frequent rocket attacks out of Gaza. “But nobody will be the protecter of the Israeli border,” he said.

At the main passenger crossing between Gaza and Israel, closed since the start of the Hamas takeover, Israel allowed in a few sick and wounded among about 200 Gazans, holed up there for days.

A teenager with leukemia and four other Palestinians in need of medical care went through the tunnel at the Erez Crossing in Israel, the military said.

— With input from agencies