IndiBlitz.com

Tel Aviv/Gaza City, Nov 16 (DPA) Israel killed four Palestinians in an airstrike near Gaza City Sunday morning, hours after Palestinians launched rockets at Israeli border towns.

In a further indication that a five-month-old truce between Israel and the Gaza militias is fast collapsing, Israeli Premier Ehud Olmert said he has ordered the military to submit a plan to &#39restore full quiet to the south&#39, and the Islamist Hamas movement, which controls the Gaza Strip, said it would &#39respond heavily to any Zionist offensive or attacks against our people&#39.

The deteriorating situation on the Israel-Gaza border, where in the past 10 days Israel has killed 14 militants and Palestinians have launched around 170 rockets and mortars at the Jewish state, is expected to dominate a meeting scheduled for Monday between Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian al-Ayyam daily said Sunday.

Olmert told ministers at Sunday&#39s cabinet meeting that &#39we cannot tolerate the price that the terrorist organisations are trying to set for the prevailing situation there.&#39

&#39It is our right to prevent further terrorism, threats and the breaking of the calm (truce) that is harming - first and foremost - the residents of the area,&#39 he said.

But Hamas, which Israel blames for the outbreak of violence, appeared unintimidated.

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Bahoom, warning that the movement would respond to any Israel action, told reporters Sunday that &#39Israeli soldiers and settlers have no right to enjoy safety and security. They should live in blood and torn-off limbs to feel what the Gaza residents feel.&#39

Slamming ongoing peace talks between Israel and Abbas&#39 Palestinian Authority, he added that &#39resistance is the only solution to restore our people&#39s rights and principles.&#39