By Xinhua,
Gaza : An Islamic Jihad leader on Wednesday said rocket attacks against Israel by armed Palestinian groups were justified.
“The rockets come in self-defense in the face of the Israeli escalation against the Palestinian people,” said Naffez Azzam, a Gaza-based leader of the movement.
“The Palestinian people don’t attack anyone but we defend ourselves over decades of conflict. We were exposed to pains, disasters and massacres,” he added.
Azzam’s remarks came as Israeli security cabinet met to discuss expanding military operations in Gaza or accepting an Egyptian offer for a ceasefire.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s spokesman said the security cabinet said it supports an Egypt-brokered truce in the strip but it also prepares for possible military actions in Gaza if mediation failed.
“The Palestinian people will neither retreat nor surrender before the Zionist threats against the Gaza Strip,” Azzam said.
Israel sealed off the Gaza Strip and increased attacks into the area after Hamas took over the coastal strip by force a year ago.
Azzam said his movement supports a lull in Gaza in order to ease the suffering of the residents.