JERUSALEM, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- The militant group Hamas says it is halting all attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip.
The surprise announcement, delivered late Sunday night by a senior Hamas leader, came just hours after Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said he had given the military free rein to act against Palestinian factions firing rockets at Israel.
Dr. Mahmoud Zahar said Hamas "declares an end to its operations from the Gaza Strip against the Israeli occupation."
He also said Hamas would abide by a pledge made earlier this year for a temporary suspension of attacks against Israel.
The New York Times said a major confrontation loomed after Hamas began firing rockets from northern Gaza into southern Israel Friday night and Israel responded with airstrikes.
An Israeli airstrike killed an Islamic Jihad leader, Muhammad Khalil, and another member of the faction Sunday as their car traveled along a coastal road in Gaza City.
Earlier Sunday, about 20 Palestinians were wounded in strikes against facilities suspected of being used by Hamas, including a school.
