5 militants die in Gaza attacks

GAZA CITY — The Hamas militant group hardened its stance Saturday after a new barrage of Israeli airstrikes killed five militants, saying it would not consider a truce and calling for more attacks on Israel.

The group also warned Israel that if it continued its 10-day air assault, it would jeopardize the possible release of Cpl. Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier captured last June by militants. Shalit has not been heard from or seen since.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, a moderate with the rival Fatah faction, has been trying to revive a cease-fire with Israel.

But after the rash of new airstrikes Saturday, including five in less than an hour, Hamas called on its fighters to “direct painful strikes at the Zionist enemy.”

Abu Obeida, a spokesman for the Hamas military wing, said, “If there is an end to the attacks, we can talk about a truce.”

Israel said about 225 rockets have landed in Israeli towns since May 15, including two Saturday. Israeli aircraft launched 14 missile strikes Saturday. Before dawn, they struck near the house of Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas in a Gaza refugee camp. In the West Bank, Israeli troops arrested a Hamas Cabinet minister.

The arrest of minister Wasfi Kabaha came two days after a sweep in which more than 30 Hamas politicians, legislators and local council members were detained, including the education minister.

There also was a rare incident of violence in East Jerusalem late Saturday. Two Palestinians were killed after firing at an Israeli patrol near the barrier Israel is erecting along Jerusalem’s municipal boundary.