According to news reports, this action by Hamas came after
it received warning letters from Cairo and other foreign countries that Israel
might be planning a new offensive against the Gaza Strip.
During a meeting held in Gaza City on Thursday, the deposed
Hamas prime minister, Ismail Haniya, instructed his security services leaders
to ensure calm in Gaza, and to prevent any actions that could lead to renewed
violence with Israel.
Taher Al-Nono, the spokesman for the government in Gaza,
told reporters that Haniya issued “clear and direct orders” to the security
forces to ensure calm in the coastal enclave.
Late on Wednesday, Hamas officials had met with the main
militant groups who had agreed to observe “national understanding” about a
period of calm, and to avoid doing anything which could provoke a strong
Israeli reaction.
An unwritten cease-fire has been in effect between Hamas and
Israel since the end of the military offensive carried out against Gaza two
years ago, but the frequency of rocket attacks has been creeping upward in
recent weeks. The Israeli military says at least 25 homemade rockets and mortar
shells have exploded in Israel’s south this month. Israel has been hitting back
for each salvo with air strikes against different targets across the Gaza
Strip.
Israel holds Hamas responsible for all violence originating
from Gaza, though Hamas blames smaller groups for the recent rocket fire. Last
week, an Israeli air strike killed an Islamic Jihad fighter on a motorcycle.
