Khaled Mashaal

The political leader of Hamas says the Islamic group will not renew a truce with Israel that expires at the end of this year.

Khaled Mashaal made the announcement Friday at a rally in a Palestinian refugee camp near the Syrian capital, Damascus. He said Hamas would not enter a new truce while the Palestinian people are preparing for a new round of conflict.

Later, Mr. Mashaal told al-Jazeera television that the current truce would not be affected, but that calls for extending it are unrealistic. He accused Israel of carrying out targeted assassinations, arrests and airstrikes in violation of the truce.

Israel says such actions are in self defense.

The deadly violence continued Saturday. Palestinian security officials say an Israeli naval vessel patrolling the Gaza Strip coast shot and killed a Palestinian fisherman. There was no immediate comment from Israel.