Strained Ceasefire

Hamas fired over 20 mortar shells into two Jewish settlements in Gaza but according to Reuters it's only when Israel responds that the ceasefire is strained.

Both the Star and the Pretoria News ran the biased Reuters story under the headline: Israeli raid on militants in Gaza puts strain on ceasefire.

Unfortunately both papers require you to be a paid up member in order to view the article online.

A Jewish settler (L) and an Israeli army soldier survey an unexploded rocket at the settlement of Neve Dekalim, a part of Gush Katif settlements block, Gaza Strip, May 18, 2005.

An interesting sidestory (via MediaBackspin): Israel contacted the Palestinian security and demanded that they take all necessary steps to stop the mortar fire. Palestinian police then clashed with the Hamas thugs, attempting to stop the mortar fire. But here is the really fascinating part...the PA accused Hamas of using civilians as defensive shields!

The Palestinian Interior Ministry charged that Hamas militants used civilians as shields, and eight officers were hurt by rocks. "This cannot be accepted and this serious violation will not pass [unanswered]," a ministry statement said.