The Palestinian militant group Hamas has threatened to storm the borders of the Gaza Strip again, if Israel fails to end its blockade on the region.
Senior Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya told a news conference in Gaza City Tuesday that all options are open to break the siege. He warned that Palestinians could breach Gaza's border with Egypt as well as other border crossings.
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians briefly poured into Egypt from Gaza in January after Hamas militants blew open the border to relieve the blockade. Israel imposed the blockade last June in an effort to stop cross-border attacks by Palestinian militants.
Separately Tuesday, jailed Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti said Palestinians are ready for peace with Israel, and he urged both sides to reach a cease-fire agreement as soon as possible.
Barghouti also affirmed his call for a two-state solution in a letter today to members of Israel's Peace Now Movement on its 30th anniversary. The group advocates peace with Palestinians, and opposes Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.
Barghouti is serving five life sentences for his involvement in deadly attacks on Israelis during a Palestinian uprising in 2000.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas resumed talks recently to try and reach a peace deal by the end of the year.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.
