Hamas Declares Fake Cease Fire Over

GAZA (Reuters) - Hamas on Thursday declared an end to a six-month-old Egyptian-brokered ceasefire with Israel in the Gaza Strip, raising the prospect of an escalation in cross-border fighting.

"The calm is over," Hamas official Ayman Taha said in an announcement after concluding talks with Palestinian factions in the coastal enclave controlled by the Islamist group.

He said the ceasefire, which Hamas says was scheduled to expire on December 19, would not be renewed "because the enemy did not abide by its obligations" to ease a crippling blockade of the Gaza Strip and halt all attacks.

Hamas stopped short of threatening an immediate escalation against Israel, which had hoped to extend the truce and appears wary of a confrontation that could cause heavy casualties on both sides.

The European Union, in a statement, called for an "immediate cessation" of both rocket fire and Israeli incursions.

Tensions along the Israeli-Gaza border have been escalating since early last month when a deadly Israeli army raid triggered a wave of rocket attacks by Palestinian militants.

On Wednesday, at least 20 rockets hit Israel, injuring two. The army responded with air strikes which killed a Palestinian.

On Thursday, 14 more rockets struck Israeli soil, causing damage but no injuries.

Israel has insisted the ceasefire was in the Palestinians' interest and ought to continue indefinitely.

Some Gaza residents hoped the deal would survive.

"I hope the truce can be renewed so we can continue to live in our houses," said Umm Mohammed, a mother of 10 whose house east of Gaza city lies close to the fortified border fence with Israel, from where tanks have mounted past incursions.

So, what does this mean? That Hamas will attack Israel with kassam rockets and mortars, Oh wait they were already doing that! In fact, despite this "cease fire" Hamas has attacked Israel virtually daily, all while claiming that Israel has violated the terms of the cease fire. Anyone who reads this blog on even a part time basis has read the countless posts by Lawhawk on how Israel's continued existence is threatened daily by Hamas thugs and Hizbullah maniacs.

Hamas and Hezbollah and Libya and Iran cannot accept Israel's existence at all. They have not stopped plotting and executing plans to force Israel into the sea. And if Israel defends itself, it is somehow violating some unnamed international law. The double standard the UN and the world hold Israel to is incredible.

Remember this day. If Israel attacks Hamas, it was Hamas that broke the cease fire first. It was Hamas that declared that the "Calm is over". Not Israel. Israel again has looked to peace and coexistence and once again Hamas and co. has chosen war and destruction.