Hamas' political leader says the Islamic group will not renew a truce with Israel that expires at the end of this year.
At a rally in a Palestinian refugee camp near the Syrian capital Friday, Khaled Mashaal 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 Associated Press reports the Palestinian Authority said Mr. Mashaal's statement was "irresponsible" and a violation of the truce.
Some information for this report provided by Reuters and AP.