Hamas, Israel trade accusations over mounting Gaza violence

GAZA, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Israel and Hamas movement on Wednesday traded accusations over the recent increase of violence in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli police sources told Israel Radio that Hamas militants fired on Wednesday 10 mortar shells and two homemade rockets, which include white phosphor, from the Gaza Strip at southern Israel.

The radio quoted head of the Ashkol regional council in southern Israel Hayeem Yelen as saying that he will address a letter to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to complain against the usage of white phosphor against Israeli populated areas.

Meanwhile, the Gaza-based Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri told Xinhua earlier on Wednesday that Israel is responsible for the current escalation of violence.

"The Israeli occupation is responsible for the current escalation (of violence) in the Gaza Strip," said Abu Zuhri, referring to an earlier Israeli threat to carry out a large-scale military offensive against Gaza following the rockets attacks on Israel.

On Wednesday afternoon, one Palestinian was killed and two others were injured after Israeli F-16 war jets struck smuggling tunnels under the borderline area between Gaza Strip and Israel, in response to the rockets attacks.

In the past 10 days, the number of homemade rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip on southern Israel had increased in coincidence with the launching of the U.S.-sponsored direct Palestinian- Israeli peace negotiations.

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