Pro-Hamas Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) claimed responsibility on Thursday for firing seven homemade rockets and three mortar shells at towns in southern Israel.

The PRC military wing said in a leaflet sent to reporters by fax that its militants fired seven makeshift rockets and three mortars at southern Israeli towns in the vicinity of the Gaza Strip.

It announced that it had launched a military operation against Israel called "Threads of Death," adding that "it would increase rockets attacks on all the Jewish settlements, and Israel should expect toughness."

The militant group mocked the Israeli leaders' statements that Israel would soon carry out a large-scale military operation against Gaza rockets launchers and the Hamas movement.

"The threads of death would reach all towns and settlements into Israel, and Israel should expect more toughness," said Abu Abeers, the PRC armed wing spokesman in Gaza.

He added that the Israeli leaders' statements and threats to conquer Gaza and get rid of armed fighters "are just media pops aiming at scaring the Palestinian people."

Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, who arrived in Cairo on Thursday to meet with Egyptian leaders, said that Israel can never stay silent for the rockets attacks carried out from Gaza on its territories.

(Xinhua News Agency December 25, 2008)