Palestinian Islamic Jihad warns of Israeli attack on Gaza

GAZA, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement said Wednesday that there are Israeli intentions to escalate aggression against the Gaza Strip.

"The threats against the Islamic Jihad, which are being fueled by the Zionist media, are an attempt to justify this aggression," the movement said in a press statement.

Israeli media outlets reported Wednesday that mortar shells fired at Israel from Gaza on Friday appear to be the same Iran-made projectiles used in a November 30 barrage fired by the Islamic Jihad group.

According to Israeli army assessments, the recent attacks show that Hamas rulers of Gaza have lost ability to prevent other militants groups from carrying out attacks from the coastal enclave, Israeli media said.

The Islamic Jihad said it would claim responsibility of any anti-Israel attacks its militants carry out, adding that "we are courageous enough to announce our operations against the occupation."

The movement warned Israel of carrying out any military action against the Palestinians, stressing that they will respond to any Israeli military escalation.

Tension has been mounting between Israel and Palestinian militants in the past few weeks, after Israeli army destroyed a tunnel in October, killing 12 Islamic Jihad militants and wounding 17 others. Enditem