The spiritual leader of Hamas said his radical Palestinian Islamic movement was ready to declare a "conditional truce" before Israel launched its deadly raid in Gaza, in an interview published today.
"It is true ... (that Hamas) was ready to declare a truce, on certain conditions, not only an Israeli withdrawal" from reoccupied Palestinian areas, Sheikh Ahmed Yassine told Spain's ABCnewspaper.
"However, after what happened, the only worthy course left is holy war," he added.
Yassine was reacting to Israel's air strike on Gaza City late on Monday that killed 15 people, including the target of the attack - Hamas military commander Salah Shehade, one of Israel's most wanted militants.
Nine children were among 13 civilians killed.
The Timesnewspaper in London reports today that a Palestinian declaration containing an unconditional commitment to end suicide attacks on Israeli civilians was finalised just hours before the Gaza strike.
AFP