2007年VOA标准英语-Hamas Rocket Kills One Israeli, New Air Strikes

Israel has promised a harsh response to a deadly Palestinian rocket attack.  Late Sunday Israel has carried out a new round of air strikes against Hamas positions in the Gaza Strip. As Robert Berger reports from VOA's Jerusalem bureau, Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip are continuing as both sides reject calls for a ceasefire.

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Israeli rescue workers are seen next to a car hit by a Qassam rocket fired by Palestinian militants from Gaza in the southern Israeli town of Sderot, 27 May 2007

Palestinian rockets fired from the Gaza Strip crashed into the battered³ Israeli border town of Sderot. The Islamic militant¹ group Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack, in which a 36-year-old Israeli man was killed when his car took a direct hit. He was the second Israeli fatality⁴ in the past two weeks, during which time Palestinian militants have fired more than 230 rockets at Israel.

The attack brought a stern warning from Prime Minister Ehud Olmert at the weekly Cabinet meeting in Jerusalem.

"There is no immunity⁵ for anyone involved in terror," Mr. Olmert said, hinting that the leaders of Hamas could be targeted. "We will decide when, how and to what extent we will act," he said.

Mr. Olmert spoke⁶ hours after Israel launched a fresh wave of air strikes on Hamas targets in Gaza. About 50 Palestinians, most of them militants, have been killed in the raids which began 12 days ago.

Moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who shares power in a coalition⁷ government led by Hamas, is trying to end the violence. "The President is working hard on achieving a ceasefire, a mutual⁸ ceasefire. And we hope in the coming 48 hours we can reach results," said his spokesman Nabil Abu Redeineh.

Hamas says it is absurd to talk about a truce⁹ while Israeli air strikes continue. And in the wake of the deadly rocket attack, Israel's offensive shows no sign of letting up.