Israel braces for Hamas-tied violence

JERUSALEM, Dec. 11 (UPI) -- Israeli troops raised their alert level on the Gaza border Thursday ahead of a demonstration marking the founding of Hamas, officials said.

The order by Maj. Gen. Yoav Galant was intended to avoid attacks against Israeli civilians or soldiers deployed along the border before and during Sunday's celebration of the start of the Palestinian Sunni paramilitary organization and political party, The Jerusalem Post reported.

The Israeli military also has resumed military operations against Hamas in the Gaza Strip ahead of the expiration of the Islamic resistance movement's cease-fire with Israel next week.

Israel imposed a nearly full closure of the Gaza Strip in early November, prompting a resumption of Palestinian rocket attacks into Israeli border towns.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met with Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni Wednesday to discuss whether to renew the Egyptian-brokered cease-fire, which went into effect June 19 and expires Dec. 19.

The 25-mile-long Gaza Strip borders Egypt on the southwest and Israel on the north and east.